Ahad Shokohian, a 38-year-old man detained during Iran’s nationwide protests in January 2026, has been sentenced to death on three separate counts. The ruling was issued by Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The sentence has drawn particular concern because official forensic medical assessments reportedly confirm that Shokohian suffers from severe asthma, a condition that significantly restricts his physical abilities.

Arrest and Serious Charges

Shokohian was arrested on January 15, 2026, in Pakdasht, Tehran Province. He has been identified as the third defendant in a broad security case involving multiple individuals.

Iranian authorities have brought a series of serious accusations against him, including “participation in two counts of intentional murder,” “acting against national security,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “destruction of public property.”

In mid-June 2026, Shokohian was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, where he remains detained. The prison holds large numbers of security-related detainees and prisoners facing execution and has repeatedly drawn attention from human rights groups over reports of executions, hunger strikes, and worsening detention conditions.

Medical Evidence and Unanswered Legal Questions

One of the most significant issues surrounding Shokohian’s case concerns the apparent conflict between the allegations against him and his documented medical condition.

The charges suggest that he was physically involved in demanding and potentially violent acts. However, forensic medical specialists have reportedly confirmed that he suffers from severe asthma, raising questions about whether he would have been physically capable of carrying out some of the actions attributed to him.

Despite the importance of this medical evidence, the court has not publicly explained how it was considered during the proceedings.

Judicial authorities have also provided no detailed public account of why the forensic findings were rejected, discounted, or considered insufficient when imposing three death sentences.

Growing Concerns Over Due Process

The severity of the verdict has raised serious concerns among human rights advocates, particularly in light of longstanding criticism surrounding the prosecution of protesters in Iran.

Rights defenders have repeatedly warned that cases involving capital punishment require the highest standards of due process, access to legal representation, transparent proceedings, and careful examination of all available evidence.

In Shokohian’s case, the proceedings have prompted questions about whether those protections were fully observed.

The case may also raise concerns under both Iranian law and international human rights standards:

Potential Domestic Law Concerns: Iranian constitutional protections include safeguards against arbitrary arrest under Article 32, the right to legal representation under Article 35, and the presumption of innocence under Article 37. Questions surrounding Shokohian’s detention, access to counsel, and trial process have therefore attracted particular scrutiny.

International Human Rights Concerns: Iran is also bound by international human rights obligations, including provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). International standards place strict protections around the right to life and require fair and impartial judicial proceedings, particularly in cases where the death penalty may be imposed.

The use of capital punishment in a case where important medical evidence remains disputed and the judicial reasoning has not been made transparent has intensified concerns about the possibility of an irreversible miscarriage of justice.

Human rights advocates are calling for greater transparency, full access to legal safeguards, and an independent review of the evidence before any execution is carried out.

Key Information | Ahad Shokohian

Name: Ahad Shokohian

Age: 38

Arrest Date: January 15, 2026

Arrest Location: Pakdasht, Tehran Province

Detention Facility: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

Court: Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court

Presiding Judge: Iman Afshari

Sentence: Three death sentences

Medical Condition: Severe asthma