Mahboubeh Shahbani has appealed to the international community to intervene on behalf of herself and others on death row in Iran, according to an audio message shared Wednesday by rights groups.
Shahbani, 33, delivered the plea from Vakilabad prison in Mashhad after authorities executed two additional men on charges tied to the large-scale anti-regime protests that erupted in January, according to advocacy organizations. Groups accuse officials of accelerating executions of high-profile detainees to intimidate the public and prevent a resurgence of unrest that preceded the joint U.S. and Israeli military campaign against the Islamic republic on Feb. 28.
Amnesty International has reported that Iran more than doubled its use of capital punishment in 2025.
Mahboubeh Shahbani calls for international action
In the recorded call from a prison phone, Shahbani said the sentence against her indicates that many others face imminent danger. She said she is most concerned for those whose convictions and death sentences have been upheld. The audio was distributed by Norway-based Iran Human Rights and the U.S.-based Center for Human Rights in Iran. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the message.
Shahbani urged the public, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to act, saying many prisoners have spent months in fear and stress at night as their cases advance.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Shahbani was convicted of carrying out actions “to strengthen Israel, the U.S., and individuals affiliated with opposition groups” during the protests. Iran Human Rights said she had only used her motorcycle to transport injured demonstrators.