Pakdasht is an industrial city in Tehran Province, approximately 45 kilometres south-east of Tehran. It has a population of around 250,000 and is one of the province's secondary urban centres.Source: editorial

What is the Pakdasht execution case about?

Three defendants who were minors at the time of an alleged mosque fire in Pakdasht in January 2026 were convicted and sentenced to death. The Iranian Supreme Court upheld the sentences. Human rights monitor Hengaw reported confessions were extracted under torture.Source: Hengaw

Why is Pakdasht in the news in 2026?

Pakdasht became internationally known after a fire at the Seyyed Al Shohada mosque killed two people in January 2026. Three defendants who were minors faced execution for the incident, with human rights groups condemning the convictions as based on forced confessions.Source: Hengaw

Background

Pakdasht is an industrial city in Tehran Province, located approximately 45 kilometres south-east of Tehran. With a population of around 250,000, it is one of the province's secondary urban centres, characterised by light manufacturing and working-class residential districts.

Pakdasht entered international attention in April 2026 when reports emerged that three teenagers and an adult woman were facing imminent execution following convictions related to a fire at the Seyyed Al Shohada mosque in the city. Human rights organisations Hengaw and HRANA reported that the defendants, arrested during or after the alleged incident, had been denied independent legal counsel throughout proceedings.

The case has drawn condemnation from the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and international human rights bodies, who argue the convictions fail to meet minimum fair-trial standards. Pakdasht's location in Greater Tehran means the case carries symbolic weight beyond a provincial incident, reflecting broader concerns about Iran's use of the death penalty against minors and individuals detained during unrest.