Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri; Death Sentence Survivor Undergoes Surgery in France to Treat Torture Injuries

July 6, 2026; Today, Monday, “Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri,” a former political prisoner and detainee of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement who survived a death sentence by the Islamic Republic, underwent surgery on his left arm in France. The procedure comes nearly four years after his arbitrary arrest, severe torture, and months of solitary confinement. He released a video speaking about the lasting physical damages caused by torture, emphasizing that he shares his story so that the people of Iran and the world know what has been inflicted upon them.

In the video, Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri states:

“I am a political prisoner. Four years ago, around this time, my left arm was broken during my arrest, and my teeth, eyes, and ears were severely injured. Today, in a hospital in France, my left arm is scheduled for surgery. In essence, two procedures are being performed: removing bone fragments and repairing torn tendons, as well as extracting a cartilaginous tumor that formed under my armpit. I am sharing this to inform those who asked what happened to us; I want the entire world and the people of Iran to know what they did to us.”

Following the completion of his surgery, he released another video wishing that no one would ever have to experience the suffering and agony that he and others endured.

Case Background: Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri

In March 2023, amid the "Woman, Life, Freedom" revolutionary uprising, Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri was arrested by Intelligence Department forces in Baneh without a judicial warrant. He was transferred to the Urmia Intelligence detention center, where he was held in solitary confinement for months without formal charges. During his detention, he was subjected to severe torture to extract forced confessions, which resulted in two heart attacks, a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder, a ruptured eardrum, and critical damage to both eyes.

In June 2023, for the first time since his arrest, he was permitted to make a phone call to his family in Persian under the strict supervision of an interrogator. Following this call, Urmia Intelligence forces summoned and threatened his family and relatives, warning them against speaking to the media about his case. Before being transferred to the Urmia Central Prison, he was interrogated for nearly four months across security detention facilities in Baneh, Sanandaj, Bukan, and Urmia.

In June 2024, his family issued a statement highlighting his deteriorating health. They revealed that he, along with 13 other co-defendants in the case—Himen Kermanj, Jalil Moloudi, Soran (Ali) Qasemi, Ahmad Mamezadeh, Pejman Soltani, Rozgar Bigzadeh-Babamiri, Kaveh Salehi, Siamak Hayasi, Javanmرد Mam-Khosravi, Salar Daghdar, Sowareh Azizzadeh, Hossein Hosseinzadeh, and Salahuddin Ahmadi—remained in temporary detention and legal limbo in Urmia Prison after approximately 14 months without judicial review. The families stated that despite hiring independent defense lawyers and requesting temporary release on bail for those with medical emergencies, the court rejected the motion, claiming the Ministry of Intelligence had not yet finalized the case file. The statement emphasized that Tayfur urgently required outside medical care due to cardiac complications from the two heart attacks suffered under torture, but prison authorities blocked his transfer despite approval from the prison doctor.

On Sunday, September 1, 2024, Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri was temporarily released from Urmia Prison after posting a bail of 3 billion Tomans pending trial. In October 2025, after months of living in hiding, he fled Iran and arrived in France.

The Judicial Process and Sentences

The multi-volume case involved 14 defendants. On July 7, 2025, Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Reza Najafzadeh and advisor Esmail Bazrkari, issued a total of 11 death sentences for the five main defendants:

• Rozgar Bigzadeh-Babamiri: Sentenced to death three times on charges of "Baghi" (armed rebellion), "leading and forming an armed rebellion group," and "espionage for Israel."
• Ali (Soran) Qasemi: Sentenced to death three times on charges of "Baghi," "Moharebeh" (enmity against God), and "leading and forming an armed rebellion group."
• Pejman Soltani and Kaveh Salehi: Each sentenced to death twice on charges of "Baghi" and "Moharebeh."
• Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri: Sentenced to death once on the charge of "leading and forming an armed rebellion group."

The five individuals were additionally sentenced to between 5 and 15 years in prison and a combined fine of 358 million Tomans on charges including "collaboration with the hostile state of Israel by executing intelligence missions for Mossad," "participation in smuggling 120 Starlink devices," "propaganda against the state," and "assembly and collusion against national security."

Eight other defendants—Siamak Hayasi, Sowareh Azizzadeh, Himen Kermanj, Hossein Hosseinzadeh, Jalil Moloudi, Ahmad Mamezadeh, Javanmard Mam-Khosravi, and Salar Daghdar—received prison sentences and fines on charges such as "membership in a rebellion group," "collaboration with the hostile state of Israel," and "insulting the Supreme Leader." Salahuddin Ahmadi was acquitted of the charges in this portion of the file, but a separate case was opened against him in a criminal court under the charge of "financing terrorism."

Reports indicate that the 33-volume case compiled by the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office of Urmia relied exclusively on reports by the Intelligence Department and confessions extracted under security detention, with no independent evidence presented to the court.

On October 24, 2025, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court reviewed the appeals of Pejman Soltani, Rozgar Bigzadeh-Babamiri, Ali Qasemi, Kaveh Salehi, and Tayfur Salimi-Babamiri, overturning all 11 death sentences and referring the case to the Mahabad Revolutionary Court for retrial. In the days that followed, the Urmia Criminal Court acquitted all defendants in the case who were out on bail of the charge of "financing terrorism."