In a shocking turn of events, Iranian authorities have reportedly sentenced a Jewish man, Arvin Ghahremani, to death, with plans to carry out the execution as soon as Monday, according to sources. This distressing news has sent a wave of shock and concern throughout the tiny Jewish community in the Islamic Republic, prompting Iranian Jewish expats and others in the Jewish communities in New York and Israel to sound the alarm over what they see as a clear miscarriage of justice.

The incident leading to Ghahremani's conviction took place when he was working out at a gym in the Iranian city of Kermanshah in November 2022. Ghahremani was allegedly ambushed by seven men, one of whom owed him money, according to information translated by Rabbi Danny Yiftach. The assailant, identified as Amir Shokri, reportedly pulled out a knife and attacked Ghahremani. In self-defense, Ghahremani disarmed Shokri and, tragically, fatally stabbed him.

However, despite the circumstances and claims of self-defense, Ghahremani was convicted as an "accomplice to the intentional murder of a Muslim" and for "intentionally inflicting nonfatal injuries." The court handed down a death sentence, which, disturbingly, is not subject to appeal, as revealed in the court documents. Under Iranian law, Ghahremani could potentially avoid execution if Shokri's family agrees to receive financial compensation. Regrettably, the family has refused any such resolution, exacerbating tensions surrounding the case.

Jews make up a small minority in Iran, comprising only 8,000 individuals out of a population of 88.5 million. Consequently, Ghahremani's impending fate has left the community anxious and concerned. There has been a surge of communication among Iranian Jews in response to the alarming news. Rabbi Danny Yiftach shared, "This morning I spent an hour responding to all the WhatsApp messages I'm receiving about this issue. This has gotten everybody very nervous in Iran."

Efforts to mediate for Ghahremani's clemency have also taken place. Dr. Homayoun Sameyah, the Jewish representative in Iran's Parliament, reportedly reached out to multiple Muslim lawmakers, even offering to build a mosque in Shokri's name. However, these attempts at resolution proved unsuccessful, intensifying the urgency to prevent Ghahremani's execution.

Rabbi Yiftach remains hopeful that this case will serve as an opportunity for the Iranian regime to rectify what many perceive as an injustice. He expressed his confidence in the goodwill of the central government, stating, "I'm confident that if this case would have been in Tehran, it wouldn't have turned out this way because I do believe in the goodwill of the central government. Ever since the revolution, Iran has said they're not against the Jewish people - they're just anti-Zionist. Now is their chance to prove that."

As the clock ticks away, the global Jewish community, alongside concerned individuals and organizations, watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution to prevent an alarming travesty of justice.