United Nations experts have issued a stern warning to Iran, urging it to halt the execution of Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 67-year-old electrical engineer detained in Lakan Prison, Rasht. The UN statement emphasized the severe procedural violations in her case, drawing attention to significant discrepancies that undermine the credibility and fairness of the trial process.
The case against Tabari is marred by egregious procedural issues, including her arrest without a warrant and prolonged solitary confinement. The trial was notably expedited, lasting less than ten minutes and conducted via video conference, with her being denied access to her preferred legal representation. The experts highlighted how these factors contribute to a conviction deemed unsafe under both international legal standards and Iran’s own commitments. The execution would violate the prohibition on arbitrary deprivation of life, as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Iran in 1975.
Tabari’s charges relate to the possession of a protest slogan and an unpublished audio message, actions the UN experts argue do not rise to the ICCPR’s definition of “most serious crimes” typically involving intentional killings. Her death sentence for the charge of baghi, or armed rebellion, handed down on October 25, 2025, exemplifies the use of capital punishment to target dissent under broadly interpreted security offenses. Similar tactics involve moharebeh, or waging war against God, which have been employed against political activists based on minimal evidence, lacking fundamental due process. For more on this ongoing situation, see JURIST.
The landscape of capital punishment in Iran extends beyond Tabari’s case. The UN experts have identified another 51 individuals facing similar death penalties, signalling a systemic pattern. This call by the UN underlines the urgent international efforts to intervene in individual executions while addressing the broader human rights crisis within the country.
While UN experts continue their dialogues with Iranian authorities, these appeals lack legal binding force. The unfolding developments, including Iran’s potential response, the possibility of judicial review, and the outlook for the other individuals on death row, remain a focal point of international attention.