Mohammad Movahedi Azad

Mohammad Movahedi-Azad
محمد موحدی آزاد
Movahedi-Azad in September 2023
Prosecutor-General of Iran
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 August 2023
Appointed byGholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Preceded byMohammad Jafar Montazeri
Chief of the Supreme Council of Justice
In office
29 November 2022 – 21 August 2023
Appointed byGholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Preceded byNabiullah Davoudi Mazandarani
Succeeded byHossein Ali Nayiri
Personal details
Born (1960-09-06) 6 September 1960
Qom, Iran

Mohammad Movahedi-Azad (Persian: محمد موحدی آزاد; born 6 September 1960) is an Iranian cleric and judge, currently serving as the Prosecutor-General.[1][2] During the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, he played a prominent role, labeling protesters "enemies of God" and saying that "the provocateurs will be tried and punished in accordance with all legal procedures."[3] In January 2026, the European Union proposed sanctions against Azad for threatening protesters with death sentences.[4]

Biography

Mohavedi-Azad was born in Qom and began his career in law shortly after the Iranian Revolution, working for the Tehran Province Prosecutor's office. He ascended gradually as a prosecutor and reached the highest position within the Tehran Court of Appeals and the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court.[5] Before becoming Prosecutor-General, Mohavedi-Azad served as the chief of the High Disciplinary Court of Judges, a judicial body which investigates legal conduct among judges and the courts.[5]

In 2009, he led the prosecution of protesters of that year's presidential election, which resulted in harsh sentences against many of them.[2] In March 2011, an appeals court reduced the sentences of seven Bahá'í leaders (the Baháʼí 7 case) from 20 to 10 years in prison; Mohavedi-Azad, however, reversed the decision and reimposed the previous punishment.[2][6][7] He has been accused of persecuting minorities, including Baháʼís, and of upholding sentences for dress code violations by women arrested by morality police.[8]

Movahedi-Azad assumed office as Prosecutor-General on 6 August 2023, succeeding Mohammad Jafar Montazeri.[9] He took a prominent role during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, calling protesters "enemies of God" and promising to seek the death penalty against those arrested under the charge of moharebeh (waging war against God).[10][11][12][13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ "News Wrap: Iran threatens death penalty for protesters as tensions escalate". PBS News. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Sinaiee, Maryam (6 August 2023). "Notorious Judge Appointed As Iran's Prosecutor General". Iran International. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  3. ^ Baskar, Pranav (21 January 2026). "Iran's Protests Have Been Completely Squashed, Government Says". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Kian, Sharifi (22 January 2026). "EU To Target Iranian Minister, Security Chiefs Over Deadly Crackdown On Protesters". RFERL.
  5. ^ a b Rezaei, Roghayeh (9 August 2023). "Competition between Rights Violators: Top Judicial Officials Appointed in Different Roles". IranWire. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Iran: Re-imposing 20-year sentences against seven Baha'i leaders is 'vindictive'". Amnesty International. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Fears Grow Over Missing Iranian Satirist". Iran International. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Mohammad Movahedi Azad". Human Rights Activists in Iran. 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Iran appoints Western-sanctioned prosecutor general to head top court". The Times of Israel. AFP. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Iran's Prosecutor General Threatens Detained Protesters With Severe Punishment". Afghanistan International. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Iran's attorney general warns of 'legal' action against protesters 'without mercy'". Gazeta Express. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  12. ^ Sykes, Patrick; Motevalli, Golnar (9 January 2026). "Iran Warns Protesters of Death Penalty as Crackdown Grows". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  13. ^ "As Iran protests enter 14th day, AG warns 'anyone involved' will face death penalty". i24news. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Iran says no leniency for 'rioters' as protests persist". Le Monde. AFP. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Prosecutor general warns decisive response to protests". Iran International. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
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