Mahnam Navab Safavi

Mahnam Navab Safavi is an Iranian rapper from Isfahan. He was arrested during the January 2026 protests in Iran and was sentenced to death by Branch 5 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan in 2026. Reports about his case have cited charges including moharebeh, propaganda against the government, assembly and collusion, and alleged participation in the destruction of public property.

Early life Navab Safavi is a 22-year-old rapper and resident of Isfahan, according to reports published after his arrest and death sentence.

Career Navab Safavi has been described in published reports as a Persian-language rapper. Coverage of his case has primarily concerned his arrest during the January 2026 protests and the subsequent criminal proceedings against him.

Arrest and legal proceedings Navab Safavi was arrested in January 2026 during nationwide protests in Isfahan. Human rights sources reported that he was arrested in the Sheikh Sadough area of the city and was subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison.

According to HRANA, Navab Safavi was arrested on 10 January 2026. The organisation reported that the case was later referred to Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, presided over by Judge Hemmati-Nejad.

In July 2026, multiple reports stated that Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced Navab Safavi to death. Iran International reported, citing an informed source, that the ruling was issued on charges including moharebeh through participation in the destruction of public property, propaganda against the government, and assembly and collusion.

Hengaw reported additional allegations including destruction of public property and other protest-related offences, and stated that the death sentence had been formally communicated to Navab Safavi.

These reports describe allegations concerning the circumstances of the proceedings and detention; the claims concerning forced confessions and procedural irregularities have not been established by an independent judicial finding in the sources cited here.

Death sentence The death sentence was reported by several Iranian and international human-rights and news organisations in July 2026. The sentence was issued by Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court under Judge Hemmati-Nejad.