The Hana Human Rights Organization expresses grave concern over the confirmation and finalization of a four-year prison sentence against Amir Rahimi, a veteran teacher with a physical disability from Azna county. Hana considers this proceeding a blatant violation of fair trial principles, the rights of the accused, and the international obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the rights of persons with disabilities.
Based on received information, Amir Rahimi, a teacher and principal of two rural primary schools in Lorestan Province, who was detained during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Lorestan Province Court of Appeals. This verdict was communicated to his lawyer on May 16, 2026.
According to available details, the appellate hearing was held without the presence of the defendant or his lawyer, and without notifying his family a practice that blatantly contradicts the fundamental principles of a fair trial, including the right to an effective defense and access to legal counsel.
On January 2, 2026, a day after the protests in Azna county, Amir Rahimi was beaten by special riot forces while defending one of his students, during which his personal vehicle was also severely damaged. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Dorud Prison.
Mr. Rahimi, who has 34 years of teaching experience, suffers from a severe physical disability affecting both of his legs. According to four separate reports issued by the forensic medical examiner stationed at Dorud Prison, his physical condition is such that enduring imprisonment and even performing basic daily personal tasks pose serious risks to his well-being. Furthermore, the prison’s supervising judge has explicitly confirmed his physical inability to endure the conditions of detention; nevertheless, his requests for release on bail have been systematically denied.
The Hana Human Rights Organization emphasizes that the continued detention and enforcement of a prison sentence against an individual in such a vulnerable physical state blatantly ignoring medical expertise and the legal mandates to protect the health of prisoners constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to health, human dignity, and the absolute prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment.
Furthermore, depriving the accused of effective participation in the judicial process and restricting his access to defense rights directly contradicts the standards established in international human rights instruments, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This situation raises profound alarms regarding the physical and legal welfare of Amir Rahimi while in state custody.