On 4 July 2026, after appealing the sentence issued by Branch 1 of Shiraz Revolutionary Court, the case of human rights defenders and lawyers Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Roy, and Massoud Ahmadian was reassigned to Branch 37 of the Court of Appeals. Not only were the defenders not informed, ultimately undermining their due process of fair trial; but Branch 37 is also reportedly know for imposing severe measures on cases concerning human rights defenders or political prisoners, consequently, raising concerns around the implementation of the prison sentences and the imminent risk of arrest.
Nazanin Salari is a woman human rights defender, lawyer and former head of the Human Rights Commission at the Fars Bar Association in Shiraz, Iran. She has actively engaged in defending the rights of women and children via several capacity development workshops. Additionally, she has continued to represent protesters and advocate for the independence of the legal profession in Iran.
Mahmoud Taravat-Roy is a human rights defender, poet, lawyer and and former head of the Human Rights Committee of the Fars Bar Association in Shiraz, Iran. He is widely known for his long-standing commitment to defending children’s rights via advocacy for new legislation. He is also renowned for his efforts in upholding the independence of the legal profession in Iran. The human rights defender has represented a broad range of clients, including women’s rights defenders, student activists, political party members, religious minorities, and individuals targeted for their social and cultural activities.
Massoud Ahmadian is a human rights defender, lawyer, and a member of the Fars Bar Association in Shiraz, Iran. The defender has provided legal advice and represented various clients facing politically motivated charges, including those targeted for their peaceful activism or beliefs. He has advocated for due process and access to legal representation in sensitive cases. Additionally, he has acted as legal counsel for fellow lawyers at risk. His legal work has also focused on the defence of women’s and children’s rights through delivering several informative workshops.
On 4 July 2026, the sentence issued by Branch 1 of Shiraz Revolutionary Court concerning human rights defenders and lawyers Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Roy, and Massoud Ahmadian was moved to Branch 37 of the Court of Appeals without informing the defenders,. This raises concerns around their due process of fair trial and the subsequent implementation of the prison sentences and imminent risk of arrest.
On 8 June 2026, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz sentenced human rights defenders and lawyers Nazanin Salari, Mahmoud Taravat-Roy, and Massoud Ahmadian to a total of three years’ imprisonment. The court sentenced each lawyer to two years’ imprisonment on the grounds of “assembly and collusion with the intent to commit crimes against national security” and one year of imprisonment for “propaganda against the state”. As a supplementary punishment, the court imposed a two-year prohibition on leaving the country and ordered the cancellation of their passports. The three human rights defenders were acquitted of the charge of “cooperation with a hostile state,” after demonstrating that participating in a workshop outside of Iran did not amount to the alleged charges. Ultimately, as provided for in article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the most severe sentence may be imposed, in this instance it amounts to two years’ imprisonment for each lawyer. Thus, only the “assembly and collusion with the intent to commit crimes against national security” will be retained, resulting in a final two-year term of imprisonment for each lawyer.
On 12 April 2026, the woman human rights defender Nazanin Salari appeared before Branch 8 of Shiraz prosecutor’s office to defend herself against the charges of “propaganda against state” and “inciting public anxiety by spreading disinformation.” In this context, the human rights lawyer exposed an illegal fee, that Fars Judiciary system was charging to the jailed protesters for their prison terms, which could be changed into bail order to facilitate their release. Nazanin Salari was released the same day on surety bond until the completion of the investigation, her clients who were victims of this process provided her with the necessary evidence to make her case. Nazanin Salari was charged, in November 2023, with ‘encouraging people to engage in corruption and prostitution’ and ‘being present in public places without a religious veil’ before Branch 112 of the Criminal Court. This case was pardoned under the general amnesty announced on February 2023
After the 28 December 2025 protest erupted, Mahmoud Taravatroi announced that he would represent detained protesters on a pro-bono basis. On 1 January 2026, Nazanin Salari, member of the Disciplinary Court of the Fars Bar Association, resigned from her position, along with a group of lawyers in result of the Bar Association’s inactivity and lack of support for the legal rights of protesters.
The judicial proceedings against the three lawyers, based on fabricated charges, were initiated in 2020 but remain dormant for several years.
