Mohammad Javad Vafaee's Death Sentence Annulled for the Second Time

The lawyer of Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani, a detained protester in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad, announced the annulment of his death sentence by the Supreme Court of Iran once again. Babak Paknia stated on the social media platform 'X' that 'the ninth branch of the Supreme Court has opposed the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani for the second time' and has referred the case for reconsideration to an equivalent branch. This athlete's death sentence, who was arrested following the nationwide protests in 2019 in Mashhad, was previously annulled in Azar 1400 (December 2021) by the Supreme Court, but the second branch of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad issued a new death sentence for him in Mordad 1402 (August 2023). Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani, born in 1995 and a boxing champion from Mashhad schools, has been accused of 'corruption on earth' through 'arson and destruction of specific places including the building of the government punishment organization,' an accusation that this political prisoner has denied. He has also been charged with 'participating in the November 2019 protests and protesting against the downing of the Ukrainian airplane and propaganda against the regime.' Activists and human rights organizations have reported torture of this protester during his detention and have protested against his death sentence. Mohammad Ghaemi and Sina Yousefi, two legal experts, stated in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America that the Islamic Republic's aim in issuing and executing death sentences for protesters is to create fear in society. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, the Islamic Republic has used Islamic Sharia laws, including 'war with God' or 'moharebeh' and 'corruption on earth,' to prosecute protesters for crimes that carry the death penalty. A human rights organization stated that the Islamic Republic has used false accusations to suppress opponents and religious forces. The return of 'Mojahid Korkor,' a political prisoner sentenced to death, from solitary confinement to quarantine; the risk of execution has not been lifted. Reports from human rights organizations indicate violations of 'Mandela Rules' in Iranian prisons; the conditions of prisoners are 'inhumane.' Eight prisoners at risk of execution in Qezel Hesar prison have joined the 'No to Execution' campaign.