Amirhossein Mousavi, political prisoner in Evin: 14 prisoners and political activists warn of the danger of his execution

Fourteen prisoners and political activists have warned in a statement of the danger of a death sentence for Amirhossein Mousavi, a political prisoner held in Evin prison. Mousavi, a critic of the Islamic Republic on the X network who wrote under the name "James Bedean", faces charges of "moharebeh" and "corruption on earth" before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court; these are charges that can lead to execution in the Islamic Republic's revolutionary courts.

The signatories of the statement have expressed concern about the handling of his case. In recent months Mousavi's case has escalated from charges of "propaganda against the system" and "assembly and collusion" to far graver ones.

Arrest at Mehrabad airport and a televised confession

Mousavi was arrested on 18 December 2024 at Tehran's Mehrabad airport, together with his wife, as they travelled to Kish. The legal group Dadban reported that his arrest was carried out in a joint operation by the IRGC Intelligence Organization and the police (FARAJA), and that he had been under surveillance for six months beforehand. His case was referred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, and bail of 10 billion tomans was set for him, which in practice made his release impossible.

On 6 October 2025, state television broadcast a video of Mousavi's statements, accusing him of giving Israel information about sensitive military sites. In a letter from Evin prison, Mousavi rejected the accusation and said he had never had access to classified information. He wrote that the statements were recorded after 148 days in solitary confinement, beatings, the arrest of his wife and threats of continued pressure, in words largely dictated by the interrogator, and he called on the authorities to publish whatever evidence they have.

A wave of political executions

The warning about Mousavi comes in the midst of a fresh wave of political executions. On Wednesday 14 October, the Islamic Republic executed Alisina Mostafavi, a mountaineer and political prisoner from Kerman, and Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, the same branch that holds Mousavi's case, sentenced Varisheh Moradi to death again.

After a forced televised confession, Amirhossein Mousavi now faces the danger of a death sentence on a charge of "moharebeh".