An Iranian court has sentenced a 23-year-old woman to death over allegations that she insulted the Prophet Muhammad and Shiite imams in online posts, according to Iranian media.
The Khorasan newspaper reported on Wednesday that Branch Six of the Criminal Court in northeastern Razavi Khorasan province sentenced Najmeh Amini to death on charges of “insulting the Prophet” and offending the “infallible imams” through content published online.
Amini had earlier announced the sentence in an audio recording from Vakilabad prison in the city of Mashhad, where she is being held.
Following the release of the recording, Iran’s Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, said no final verdict had been issued at that stage and that the Supreme Court had yet to rule on her case.
Khorasan said the death sentence was based on accusations linked to material Amini allegedly posted on social media. The ultimate legal outcome remains subject to review by Iran’s Supreme Court.
Amini was arrested in Mashhad in January on allegations of insulting religious sanctities online, as well as engaging in activities deemed to threaten national security.
The case comes amid continuing international scrutiny of Iran’s use of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving political, security and religious charges.
