Political prisoners warn of death sentence for Amirhossein Mousavi

Fourteen political prisoners and activists have issued a joint statement warning of the potential death sentence for Amirhossein Mousavi, a social media activist known as ‘James Be-din’. The signatories claim that Mousavi’s legal situation has deteriorated significantly following the broadcast of televised confessions on state media.

According to the statement, Mousavi’s charges increased from five to nine after the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) aired a report. The new charges include ‘moharebeh’ (enmity against God) and ‘efsad-fil-arz’ (corruption on earth), both of which carry the possibility of execution. The activists assert that these severe charges did not exist in the case prior to the televised broadcast, which they claim was directed by security agencies in the aftermath of a 12-day war.

Mousavi has been in detention since late 2024 and previously spent six months in solitary confinement. In a letter from Evin Prison, he denied the allegations presented in the television report, stating that his confessions were obtained under duress, including physical assault and threats against his family. His case is currently being heard in Tehran’s Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court.