Iran's supreme court rejected the appeal by the family of Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani, a Jewish citizen, who was sentenced to death for the killing of a Muslim man two years ago. His execution was postponed last week, amid international pressure.
The family claimed they were unable to present his defense, including the efforts he had made to save the victim and that they were badly represented by the court appointed attorney.
IHRNGO, an independent Kurdish rights group, called in the government of Iran to postpone his and others' executions and for transparency in the investigation.
Ghahremani claims he acted in self-defense when 40-year-old Amir Shukri tried to kill him. He has been jailed in Kermanshah's Dizel Abad Prison since the incident.
According to IHRNGO, the victim's family was pressured by an emissary of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and members of the IRGC's intelligence to refuse compensation for his death. Such an agreement, common in Iran, would prevent the execution, but this was denied because Ghahremani is Jewish.