Full Breakdown
Execution Hours After Prison Wedding Highlights Iran’s Expanding Death-Penalty Campaign
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The Execution and Phone Marriage
On October 5, 2026, Alireza Sepahi, 25, was hanged at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan a few hours after marrying his fiancée Mahshad Keshani, 22, by telephone. The ceremony was arranged by human-rights lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi, who read the vows while the fathers gave permission over the call. The dowry consisted of a copy of the Qur’an, a piece of saffron rock candy and a single red rose. Prison officials denied an in-person meeting, and the marriage held no legal power to halt the execution.
Background & Context
Sepahi and Keshani were arrested during the anti-regime protests that erupted on January 8 in Isfahan’s Alikhani Square. The Revolutionary Court charged dozens of demonstrators with “moharebeh” (waging war against God), “corruption on earth,” and armed rebellion. Twelve defendants, including Sepahi, received death sentences in the Alikhani Square case. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency later announced that the Supreme Court upheld those convictions.
Data & Statistics
- More than 100 people have been sentenced to death for participation in the January protests.
- Iran Human Rights (IHR) reports 34 executions linked to the protests.
- In the Alikhani Square case, 12 defendants received death sentences; seven have been executed, including Sepahi and Alireza Raisi.
- Two co-defendants were executed on July 19, and another execution was scheduled for July 28.
Official Statements & Responses
Mai Sato, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, noted that Sepahi’s earlier heart attack in July had temporarily saved his life, but he was later returned to prison and executed after regaining consciousness.
Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), condemned the executions as “anti-human crime” and urged UN Secretary-General António Guterres to intervene ahead of World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10.
Human-rights groups—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center—have criticized the trials for forced confessions, lack of counsel, and the use of public hangings as a deterrent.
Criticism & Opposition
The NCRI’s Rajavi called for “immediate international action” to halt further executions and hold Tehran accountable for violations of international law.
Human-rights organizations have documented systematic torture, beatings, and psychological pressure applied to detainees in the Alikhani Square case, arguing that the convictions lack due-process guarantees.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I told her, ‘My dear, you understand that this cannot simply be undone?’” — Amirsalar Davoudi
- “Alireza was crying, and something deeply painful and beautiful happened. Even the prison officers began to cry,” — Amirsalar Davoudi
- “But shortly before the scheduled execution, he suffered a heart attack and was transferred to hospital,” — Mai Sato
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fiancée’s name: sources alternate between “Mahshad Keshani” and “Mahshad Kashani.”
- Execution site: some reports cite Isfahan’s Central Prison, others Dastgerd Prison.
- Co-defendant’s name and age: referred to as Alireza Raisi, Raissi, or Raeisi, with ages listed as 21 or 24.
- July executions: outlets state executions occurred on July 19 and July 28, yet the date ledger marks those dates as “deadline,” creating uncertainty.
What’s Next
Rajavi’s appeal to the United Nations is timed for October 10, urging diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran. Mahshad Keshani remains incarcerated on a five-year sentence and faces additional security charges, with no indication of a forthcoming release or appeal.