Family says man detained in Iran may face execution

Fears are mounting for a 30-year-old man held in Iran after his family said the case against him could end in execution, despite what they describe as glaring contradictions in the allegations.

Peyvand Naimi has remained in custody since early January, when he was arrested during anti-government protests.

In an interview with RTÉ’s News at One, his Dublin-based cousin, Sama Sabet, said he has endured torture, mock executions and sustained pressure to admit to crimes he denies.

“On 8 January 2026…he was arrested by the security forces and taken to the IRGC detention centre in Kerman.

“Then, on 2 February, the Iranian authorities set out the charges against him, which they described as propaganda against the regime and membership in a subversive group.

“Then on 28 February, he was accused of being involved in the killing of three Basij forces on 8 Jan, which is interesting because he was already in detention on 8 January.

“So, the accusation is basically preposterous,” Ms Sabet said.

She said Mr Naimi has been denied legal representation and that there is “not a single shred of evidence” to back up the claims made against him.

“This has been a pattern of state-sponsored persecution,” Ms Sabet added.

Mr Naimi has been able to make only brief phone calls, Ms Sabet said, though family members still living in Iran have managed to visit him several times.

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“My aunt is in Iran, and they are allowed to make these international phone calls, but they are incredibly expensive for 30 seconds.

“So whatever information she has received about him and his condition has come through my aunt.

“A lot of Iranians who have fled to Turkey have also been a source of information.

“His relatives have been able to visit him a few times, and he has been able to make a few short calls as well,” she said.

Ms Sabet said the last time Mr Naimi was able to speak with relatives was on 7 March.

During that call, he said he was being falsely accused, pressured into confessing and that he rejected the allegations against him.

“He was tortured for 48 hours, tied against the wall, beaten, and he was taken to two mock executions.

“So, the first time around, he was asked to say his prayers and then they didn’t execute him.

“The second time around, they almost kicked the stool out from underneath his legs. This is obviously very distressing for his family,” she said.

Ms Sabet said the family now hopes to build public pressure on the Iranian authorities in an effort to secure his release.

That push comes after the execution of 18-year-old Amir Hossein Hatami, who was convicted by the Iranian judiciary of taking part in an attack on a military facility during anti-government protests.

“We are going to put all our efforts, do everything that we can, to bring his case to light and we still have a lot of hope that he will be released.

“But we also are aware that in order for that pressure to be built, we need media, we need civil society groups, we need human rights groups, we need other organisations to really rally behind Peyvand,” she said.

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