Political activist Bijan Kazemi sentenced to 37 years and 6 months in prison
Hengaw – Sunday, May 24, 2026
Bijan Kazemi, a political activist, former political prisoner, and resident of Kuhdasht in Lorestan Province, has been sentenced by the Iranian judiciary to a total of 37 years and 6 months in prison after enduring nearly 16 months of detention, legal limbo, and torture in government detention facilities.
Based on reports obtained by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the sentence was recently issued by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and formally communicated to Kazemi. His trial was held in February 2026. He faced charges including “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal and external national security” and “membership in opposition groups.”
Iranian intelligence forces arrested Bijan Kazemi at his family home in Kuhdasht on January 19, 2025, without presenting any warrants. During the arrest, agents confiscated all electronic devices belonging to him and his family members.
He was later transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, where he was held for months under conditions amounting to enforced disappearance, prolonged solitary confinement, and detention in undisclosed safe houses. According to informed sources, Kazemi endured severe physical and psychological torture aimed at extracting forced confessions. Security interrogators conditioned access to legal counsel and contact with his family on his “cooperation” and acceptance of fabricated security scenarios.
During his prolonged detention, security agencies also attempted to build a case accusing Kazemi of “procuring weapons for the assailant responsible for attacking two government judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini.” Although the allegation was later dismissed by security authorities and Kazemi was officially acquitted of the charge in June 2025, it continued for months to serve as a means of pressure against him and his family. He was eventually transferred to Ward 7 of Evin Prison in October 2025.
Kazemi had previously been arrested in April 2020 over his political activities and sentenced to 22 months in prison. He served 18 months of that sentence in Khorramabad Central Prison before being released under electronic monitoring with an ankle bracelet.
