Overview of the Case Against Najmeh Amini
An Iranian accounting student has been handed a death sentence alongside a lengthy prison term following legal proceedings connected to online activity. Human rights organisations have expressed deep concern over the judgment, pointing to a broader rise in capital punishment and crackdowns on dissent within the country.
Najmeh Amini, aged 23, is currently detained inside Vakilabad prison located in Mashhad in north-east Iran. Court proceedings resulted in separate rulings from a revolutionary court and a criminal court, yielding both a death sentence and an additional prison term exceeding 12 years.
Charges of Blasphemy and Additional Convictions
According to information shared with human rights advocates by a family source, the capital punishment stems from accusations of "sab ol-nabi" or insulting the prophet. Authorities reportedly targeted her after monitoring her online accounts through the country's Cyber Police force, though the precise wording of her messages has not been made public.
In a separate legal matter, she was handed a sentence of 12 years, six months, and one day. The charges in that verdict involved spreading propaganda against the ruling regime and acting against national security. Records indicate she was initially taken into custody by security personnel during nationwide demonstrations in January.
Court Defense and Legal Status
During the judicial hearings, local media reports noted that the student argued she authored the remarks while experiencing hallucinations after consuming psychedelic mushrooms with friends, with her defense framing the statements as a slip of the tongue. The presiding judge dismissed this argument, questioning why the hallucinatory state only targeted prophetic figures rather than political opponents or foreign nations.
Under article 262 of the local penal code, insulting the prophet carries a potential death penalty, although exemptions exist under article 263 for statements made without deliberate intent or while intoxicated. Judicial officials have not yet finalized the capital ruling, leaving it open to appeal before the supreme court.
International Response and Warnings
In an audio recording attributed to the young woman released prior to the verdict, an appeal was made for external intervention from lawyers, the United Nations, and advocacy groups. Independent monitors have warned that utilizing capital punishment for online expressions risks establishing alarming precedents for peaceful speech.
Sources: The Guardian, Iran Human Rights, NDTV.
