Ali Zarei, eye injury survivor of Woman, Life, Freedom movement, sentenced to death

Hengaw – Thursday, September 10, 2026

Ali Zarei, a 27-year-old Turkish man from Ardabil who sustained an eye injury during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, has been sentenced to death by Iran’s judiciary on a charge of “corruption on Earth.” He is currently held at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ali Zarei Douzdarresi to death on the charge of “corruption on Earth” (efsad-e fel-arz).

The court cited allegations including “extensive political activities, creating a false portrayal of damage, producing false news, propaganda against the state, disrupting security, and illegally entering and leaving the country” as grounds for the charge.

The death sentence was formally communicated to Zarei on August 23, 2026.

In a recent message from Ghezel Hesar Prison, Zarei said he had not engaged in any violent or terrorist activity against civilians and appealed to human rights advocates, international organizations and the Iranian public to help prevent his execution.

Zarei, who had been residing in Germany, was arrested by Intelligence Ministry forces on April 28, 2026, after entering Iran.

During the preliminary investigation, his case was handled by Branch 3 of the Investigative Office of Tehran’s District 33 Prosecutor’s Office, known as the Security Prosecutor’s Office. He was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison on June 30, 2026.

Zarei sustained an injury to one of his eyes after being struck by shotgun pellets during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

He had previously faced arrest and judicial proceedings and is currently being held in Ward 37 of Unit 3 at Ghezel Hesar Prison.