Human rights activists announced on Friday, June 12, 2026, that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran had sentenced Mehdi Pakmehr, an artist from Bojnord, to six years in prison and 80 lashes.
According to reports, Mehdi Pakmehr, who had been wounded in the leg by pellet gunfire during the protests, was arrested on January 9, 2026, along with several employees of his café. He spent approximately two months in detention.
Mehdi Pakmehr is a well-known cultural and political activist in Bojnord and had previously been subjected to pressure by government authorities on multiple occasions.
Informed sources have also reported attempts to attribute certain charges to him, emphasizing that the available evidence and images do not correspond with some of the allegations made against him.
The human rights website Dadban also stressed that reports concerning Mehdi Pakmehr's lack of full access to the case documents, the refusal to provide a written copy of the verdict, and the ambiguity surrounding the charges brought against him constitute "a clear example of the violation of the right to defense" and a breach of the principles of a fair trial.
The website further noted that his previous injury during the protests, along with attempts to attribute charges to him without presenting clear evidence, indicate a pattern of case fabrication and the construction of allegations against this artist.
