Human rights sources report that South Azerbaijani political prisoner and former athlete Gholamreza Khani Shakarab from Ardabil is facing the imminent risk of execution.

The 34-year-old Gholamreza Khani Shakarab, a former MMA champion, international coach, and referee, was reportedly transferred in recent days from the security ward of Tehran’s Evin Prison to a solitary confinement cell in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. Human rights advocates view the transfer as a possible indication that preparations are underway for the implementation of his death sentence.

According to reports, Khani Shakarab was sentenced to death by Judge Abolghasem Salavati of Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “espionage and cooperation with an enemy state (Israel).” The sentence was later reportedly upheld without modification by Branch 39 of Iran’s Supreme Court.

Human rights sources state that he was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing throughout the investigation and trial process, and that the verdict was based on coerced confessions.

Before his arrest, the Azerbaijani citizen had been living in Turkey. Reports indicate that he was detained by Iranian security forces during a trip to Iraq last year and was subsequently transferred to Iran.

In connection with the same case, his 43-year-old brother, Ismail Khani, was also arrested on political charges and is currently serving his sentence in Ardabil Central Prison.