An Iranian female student was sentenced to death for a message posted on social media

Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old Iranian student, was sentenced to death for blasphemy after allegedly posting a message on social media. The young woman is imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, and the sentence is not final and may be appealed to the Supreme Court.

According to Human Rights Activists in Iran, Amini was found guilty of “sab ol-nabi,” a charge referring to insulting the Prophet Muhammad. In a separate case, she received a sentence of 12 years, six months, and one day in prison for charges including acts against national security and propaganda against the regime.

Amini was arrested during the nationwide protests in January, which were violently suppressed by the authorities. From prison, she called on the UN and human rights organizations to intervene. Iran Human Rights says that more than 600 people have been executed in Iran since the beginning of the year and warns that the death penalty is increasingly being used to intimidate dissidents.

Under Iranian law, blasphemy may be punishable by death. The young woman’s defense argued that the messages had been posted under the influence of hallucinations, but the judge rejected the argument. Convictions for blasphemy remain rare, with the last documented case dating back to May 2023.

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