Iranian student sentenced to death for social media post

Human rights organizations report that 23-year-old accounting student Najmeh Amini has been sentenced to death in Iran for "sab ol-nabi," or insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Amini, who is currently held at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad, was convicted following posts she made on social media. In a separate legal proceeding, she received an additional sentence of 12 years, six months, and one day in prison for charges related to national security and spreading anti-regime propaganda.

While the exact timing of her arrest is linked by human rights group HRANA to anti-government protests in January 2026, the current legal situation remains fluid. The death sentence is not yet final, as it has not been upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. In a message released from prison this past September, Amini appealed to the United Nations and international legal advocates for assistance. Activists note that this case is part of a broader trend, with over 600 executions reported in Iran since the beginning of the year, raising significant concerns regarding the state's use of capital punishment to suppress dissent.