World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
Iranian student sentenced to death over social media post
Iranian student Najmeh Amini has been sentenced to death for a social media post authorities say insulted the Prophet.
The 23-year-old is being held in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad, and a separate case brought her a prison sentence of more than 12 years.
She was arrested during January’s anti-government protests, which were met with a deadly crackdown and mass arrests.
Iran’s penal code makes insulting the Prophet a crime punishable by death, although it provides exceptions for remarks made without deliberate intent, including a slip of the tongue or intoxication.
Amini’s defence argued that she posted the remarks while hallucinating after taking psychedelic mushrooms, but the judge rejected that argument.
The death sentence is not final and can be appealed to Iran’s Supreme Court.
Rights groups warn that her case could widen the use of capital punishment for peaceful expression, as they report more than 600 executions in Iran this year.
Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old accounting student in Iran, has been sentenced to death for blasphemy over a social media post.
The sentence was issued by a criminal court and remains subject to appeal before Iran’s Supreme Court.
Amini is held in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad and also received a prison sentence in a separate case.
Her defense said she posted the remarks while hallucinating after consuming psychedelic mushrooms, but the judge rejected the defense.
Iran Human Rights warned the case could widen the use of capital punishment for peaceful online expression.
- Who
- Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old accounting student.
- What
- She was sentenced to death for insulting the prophet in a social media post. She also received a prison sentence in a separate case.
- When
- The verdict date is not stated. It was reported publicly in October 2026.
- Where
- Mashhad, Iran; she is held in Vakilabad prison.
- Why
- The court convicted her of blasphemy, or insulting the prophet. Her defense argued that the post was made while she was hallucinating after consuming psychedelic mushrooms.
Iranian criminal court
Iran Human Rights and Amini’s defense
Sentence
Iranian criminal court
The court sentenced Amini to death for blasphemy over a social media post.
Iran Human Rights and Amini’s defense
Iran Human Rights says the sentence risks expanding capital punishment against peaceful online expression.
Defense
Iranian criminal court
The judge rejected the defense’s arguments that Amini posted while intoxicated and that the remarks were a slip of the tongue.
Iran Human Rights and Amini’s defense
Amini’s defense argued that she posted the remarks while hallucinating after consuming psychedelic mushrooms and that they were a slip of the tongue.
Amini was arrested during nationwide protests, according to The Guardian and LBC; Iran Human Rights separately reports that she was arrested in Mashhad on 3 February.
Iran Human Rights says Amini was arrested in Mashhad after monitoring by Cyber Police experts.
The Khorasan newspaper confirmed the case using Amini’s initials, according to Iran Human Rights.
Iran Human Rights reported that Amini had been sentenced to death and that the sentence remained subject to appeal.
The Guardian and LBC reported on Amini’s death sentence.
- Age
- 23
- Prison
- Vakilabad prison, Mashhad
- Death sentence charge
- Sabol-nabi, or insulting the prophet
- Separate prison sentence
- 12 years, six months and one day, according to The Guardian
- Appeal status
- Subject to review by Iran’s Supreme Court
- Reported executions in Iran this year
- More than 600, according to Iran Human Rights
3 sources
What people are saying
Sentencing a 23-year-old woman to death for what she expressed on social media is an extremely alarming development.
I do not want to make a hero out of myself today. I only want one thing: be my voice,
I am an innocent young girl with so many hopes and dreams. I have parents who are waiting for me. A family that every night, with the fear of losing me, turns their night into morning.