UPDATE, DEC 29:

UN experts have called for an immediate halt to the planned execution of Zahra Shahbaz Tabari (pictured), the 67-year-old electrical engineer detained in Lakan Prison in Rasht in northern Iran.

The severe procedural violations in this case —including the unlawful deprivation of her liberty, the denial of effective legal representation, the extraordinarily brief trial, the lack of adequate time to prepare a defence, and the use of evidence that appears insufficient to support a charge of baghi [rebellion against Islamic rulers] — render any resulting conviction unsafe….

Ms. Tabari’s case shows a pattern of serious violations of international human rights law regarding fair trial guarantees and the inappropriate use of capital punishment for broad and ill-defined national security offenses.

The experts noted that Tabari is among at least 52 individuals facing the death penalty for “national security” offenses, including baghi, moharebeh [waging war against God], corruption on earth, and espionage.

Iran leads the world in executions on a per capita basis. In 2024, 975 people were put to death, and human rights activists verified at least 1,500 executions in 2025 through the start of December.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, NOV 12: Iranian authorities have sentenced to death Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 67-year-old retired electrical engineer, after a 10-minute trial.

The evidence against her consisted of a piece of fabric with the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” — the slogan for mass protests in autumn 2022 — and an audio recording stored on her phone that was never sent to anyone.

Tabari was arrested on April 17 when five security agents raided her home in Rasht in northern Iran without a warrant. They took her away as they confiscated phones, computers, tablets, and other electronic devices.

She spent a month in solitary confinement under interrogation before Israel’s 12-day war in June delayed proceedings.

After last month’s 10-minute video conference trial, plagued by audio problems, she was sentenced to death on charges of “armed rebellion through membership in the terrorist group Monafeqin”.

Tabari wrote her family:

In court, I faced sound disruption. When I objected, I was connected to the court by a desk phone. The judge asked only one question: “What is your final defense?”

I answered, but it wasn’t recorded correctly in the case. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes before he issued a death sentence.

Tabari worked for more than 30 years as an electrical engineer and sustainable energy specialist for the Gilan Electricity Administration. She retired a few years ago.

She has two children: a daughter in her late 20s who lives in Iran and a 35-year-old son, Soroush Samak, who lives in Sweden.

The engineer was first arrested in May 2022 and detained for three months on charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”. She was released and wore an electronic ankle monitor for a year.

Tabari had no appointed defense attorney. She says her death sentence was actually issued on October 4, three days before she received court documents to review.

She immediately wrote objections on the case file, but the sentence had been confirmed at 9:20 that morning.

Soroush Samak said his mother endured psychological torture during interrogations: “They told her they’d cause problems for her children if she didn’t confess. My sister still goes everywhere with my father.”

He added, “My sister said [our mother] has lost weight, her strength has decreased, and her face has become thinner.”

Samak finally spoke with his mother on October 31, “As soon as she heard my voice, she burst into tears.” He noted:

When they come for a 67-year-old woman who isn’t a political activist or member of any organization, you realize that all Iranians are in the execution queue and one day the noose will fall around all our necks….

My mother is one drop in this sea of blood that the Islamic Republic has created.