Yusuf Mehrdad and another Iranian were sentenced to death for blaspheming. Yusuf was held in solitary confinement for two months prior to sentencing.
In April 2021, Yusuf Mehrdad from the city of Ardabil and another unidentified Iranian were sentenced to death. Their offenses had been, among some others more politically charged, “insulting the Prophet” and general blasphemy.
Yusuf, the father of three children, had been initially arrested in May 2020, after which he was denied visits and contact from his family for eight months and even kept in solitary confinement for two months.
Iranian authorities have apparently not revealed to the public the content of each man’s insults to the Prophet and blasphemous statements.
Two Iranians Handed Death Sentences For 'Insulting Prophet' - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Two Iranians given death sentences for 'insulting Prophet Muhammad' - The New Arab
Iran is a theocratic Islamic republic that derives its legal principles from Islamic religious law. As such, blasphemy and apostasy can be and are punished with death. Although there is no codified apostasy law in the penal code, this does not prevent its punishment in accordance with Islamic legal principles, and blasphemy is codified as a capital offense within the penal code. Iran has a poor track record on human rights, and if these “offenses” do not result in death, they may result in imprisonment or torture. Those who stand accused of either must also fear reprisal from non-state actors, though documented incidents of such reprisals are not as prominent as in some other countries.