First Public Hangings of 2026: Protesters Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi Executed in Isfahan

According to the judiciary’s Mizan News Agency, Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani (left photo) and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi (right photo) were hanged at an undisclosed location on 28 July 2026. Mehr News Agency and Hamshahri reported that the executions were carried out “in the presence of the public.” Videos shared online show that the executions were carried out in Alikhani Square, the scene of their alleged offences.

During the nationwide protests of December 2025 to January 2026, Isfahan’s Alikhani Square was one of the scenes of protests. Islamic Republic authorities reported that four security forces were killed on 8 January. According to informed IHRNGO sources, 62 people were originally arrested in relation to the deaths of four security forces that night and subjected to one to three months of interrogations and torture. 

An informed source previously told IHRNGO: “Many of the defendants in the case didn’t even have proper trials. Phone and online video trials were conducted from prison without any lawyers present, not even an appointed one. It was just them in a room with two guards and a judge on the other end of the line. Most of their sentences have been upheld by Branches 9 and 39 of the Supreme Court.” 

On 19 July, state media announced the executions of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, an Afghan national, in connection with the events of that night. According to the announcement, “16 people were indicted in the case.” In a report published on 21 July, IHRNGO identified 13 of the remaining defendants in the case that included Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari. It reported that more than 70 protesters are currently at risk of the death penalty in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison.

Abolfazl Sepahi was 25 years old and from Isfahan. His cousin, Alireza Sepahi, is one of the other defendants in the case. Amirhossein Safari, who was 28 and also from Isfahan, had a physical disability, having lost the use of his left hand after an accident a few years ago.

Per Mizan’s report, the two protesters were sentenced to death on charges of “membership in baghi groups [those who commit armed armed rebellion] acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God) through drawing weapons and creating terror, panic and insecurity in society, efsad-fil-arz (corruption on Earth) through acts against the physical integrity of individuals and committing actions causing severe disruption to public order and national security, destruction and arson of public property to disrupt social order and security and other criminal acts leading to the martyrdom of four law enforcement officers.”

On 23 January, state media broadcast the forced confessions of the defendants, with their faces blurred and names changed to conceal their identities. The forced confessions were used as part of a propaganda video titled “Shock Documentary: The Events of Dey 1404 (December 2025–January 2026) in Isfahan.”

Following their executions, Mizan also published selected excerpts from the reconstruction of the crime scene and their trial. 

IHRNGO has documented the systemic use of torture and the violations of due process and fair trial rights in death penalty cases. On 16 May, the organisation warned that the Islamic Republic's judiciary is actively weaponising state-approved lawyers to facilitate and expedite the execution of arrested protesters. Families of death row prisoners are also routinely silenced through threats and coercion to prevent them from speaking out about their loved ones’ cases.

Videos shared online late last night showed preparations being made for the executions in Alikhani Square in Isfahan. Groups of people began gathering at the location to protest against the planned executions. According to unofficial videos and reports, the two protesters were hanged at the same time as the call for morning prayer at around 3:40 am local time. Authorities also violently cracked down on the people protesting against the executions, with several reported to have been arrested.  

At least 26 protesters have been executed in connection to the December 2025–January 2026 protests since 19 March, listed here in order of execution: Saleh Mohammadi, Saeed Davodi, Mehdi Ghasemi, Amirhossein Hatami, Mohammad Amin Biglari, Shahin Vahedparast Kolor, Ali Fahim, Amir Ali Mir Jafari, Erfan Kiani, Sasan Azadvar, Ebrahim Dolatabadnejad, Mehdi Rasouli, Mohammadreza Miri, Mohammad Abbasi, Abbas Akbari Feizabadi, Ashkan Maleki, Mehrdad Mohammadinia, Fathollah Avari, Javad Zamani, Abolfazl Saedi, Mohammad Amini Dehaghani, Erfan Esfandiari, Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, Mehdi Khanaki, Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi.

Mehrab Abdollahzadeh and Aref Khoshkar, two “Woman, Life, Freedom” protesters, were also executed during this period.