Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

for Human Rights in Iran

https://www.iranrights.org
Library
Promoting tolerance and justice through knowledge and understanding
Flogging

Flogging, Arman Shadivand, Darehshahr, HRANA, July 8, 2025

HRANA
July 8, 2025
Web article

Execution of Lashing Sentence for Arman Shadivand

A Clear Example of Suppression of Freedom of Expression in Iran

On the morning of Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the sentence of 30 lashes against Arman Shadivand, a well-known environmental activist and artist from Darreh Shahr, was carried out in the enforcement branch of the city’s prosecutor’s office. This punishment was imposed for the charge of “insulting the then-president, Ebrahim Raisi.” The action has drawn strong reactions from human rights organizations, once again highlighting the systematic repression of free expression in Iran.

Arman Shadivand had previously been subjected to multiple heavy judicial sentences. In February 2025, he was sentenced by Branch Two of the Ilam Revolutionary Court to two years of discretionary imprisonment on charges such as “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting officials,” a verdict that was upheld in the Ilam Court of Appeals in May 2025. Prior to that, in January 2025, the Ilam Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to an additional one year and four months in prison.

The charges brought against Shadivand included “propaganda in favor of opposition groups,” “supporting the 2022 protests,” and “insulting figures such as Ali Khamenei, Qassem Soleimani, Ebrahim Raisi, and Hassan Nasrallah.” These repeated sentences and accusations reflect a deliberate process of psychological exhaustion and gradual elimination of this cultural and environmental activist.

Unfair Proceedings and Security Interference

Arman Shadivand’s judicial case was formed and managed under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Intelligence—an indication of the political nature of the judicial process and the lack of independence of the courts in Iran. His court hearings were also held behind closed doors and lacked necessary transparency.

About Arman Shadivand

Born on March 1990, in Darreh Shahr, Arman Shadivand is not only active in environmental causes but also works in the field of sound engineering and psychoacoustics. He is known as a composer, singer, and writer. He has authored eight books, all of which have been banned from publication by official institutions—a clear violation of freedom of thought and expression that has repeatedly been condemned by international human rights bodies.

Systematic Repression of Civil Activists

Arman Shadivand is only one among dozens of civil, artistic, and environmental activists who, in recent years, have faced prison sentences, lashings, and security pressures. The repetition of these sentences and arrests is part of a broader policy to silence dissenting voices—a strategy that directly targets human dignity and the fundamental rights of citizens.

At a time when Iranian society is grappling with multiple environmental and social crises, suppressing and punishing those who strive to raise awareness and demand accountability only deepens these problems and extinguishes the voice of truth.

ABF Note

 

Findings of guilt in the Islamic Republic of Iran's Judicial Proceedings

The Islamic Republic of Iran's criminal justice system regularly falls short of the standards for due process necessary for impartiality, fairness, and efficacy. Suspects are often held incommunicado and not told of the reason for their detainment. Defendants are frequently prohibited from examining the evidence used against them. Defendants are sometimes prohibited from having their lawyers present in court. Additionally, confessions, made under duress or torture, are commonly admitted as proof of guilt. Because Iran's courts regularly disregard principles essential to the proper administration of justice, findings of guilt may not be evaluated with certainty.

Corporal Punishment: the Legal context in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Islamic Republic's criminal code recognizes corporal punishment for a wide range of offenses: consumption of alcohol, theft, adultery, "flouting" of public morals, and mixing of the sexes in public. Judges have the latitude to mete out corporal punishment for those sentenced to death. In such cases, the flogging is carried out before death to maximize the suffering of defendant. Aside from flogging, the Islamic Republic also employs amputations as a punishment for theft. In such cases, the defendant is taken to a hospital and put under anesthesia as his hand or foot is amputated. In some cases the left foot and right hand are cut off, making it difficult for the condemned to walk, even with the assistance of a cane or crutches.

The Islamic Republic's Systematic Violation of its International Obligations under International Law

The use of corporal punishment is contrary to international law and is addressed in several international agreements. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Iran has ratified, states that, "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Identical language is also used in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Iran is also a party to. The strongest expression of international disapproval is contained in the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). This treaty defines torture as, "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as ... punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed." Although the Islamic Republic of Iran has yet to sign the CAT, the prohibition on torture is now considered jus cogens and, therefore, part of customary international law. Furthermore, even though the norm against corporal punishment is not yet a jus cogens, there is increasing evidence that it is illegal under international human rights law.[1] In Osbourne v. Jamaica, the Committee Against Torture (a body of experts responsible for monitoring compliance with the Convention) held that "corporal punishment constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment contrary to Article 7 of the Convention." The Islamic Republic of Iran's systematic violations of its obligations under international law have been addressed by the UN General Assembly multiple times, most recently in December 2007. In Resolution 62/168, the UN expressed deep concern with Iran's continued flouting of international human rights law, particularly, "confirmed instances of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations."