Six “Alikhani Square” Protesters at Imminent Risk of Execution; Alireza Sepahi Suffered Heart Attack Prior to Planned Public Hanging
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 31 July 2026: Protesters Alireza Sepahi Badjani, Ghaem Hosseini, Alireza Raisi, Ali Dashti, Shervin Bagherian and Amirhossein Maleki are at imminent risk of execution in Isfahan Central Prison. Their co-defendants Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi were executed at the prison on 19 July, and Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi were hanged in Alikhani Square on 28 July.
Newly obtained information reveals that Alireza Sepahi Badjani and Ghaem Hosseini were also scheduled to be executed on 28 July. However, Ghaem’s execution was halted for unknown reasons and Alireza Sepahi Badjani had to be rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack shortly before the public hanging.
On 30 July, following backlash against the public hangings, the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office announced criminal proceedings had been initiated against several public figures and citizens who had spoken out online.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Alireza Sepahi Badjani (25) Ghaem Hosseini (21), Alireza Raisi (22), Ali Dashti (20), Shervin Bagherian (18), and Amirhossein Maleki (20), six of the remaining defendants in the “Alikhani Square” case are at imminent risk of execution in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison.
Shervin and Amirhossein’s families were summoned for final visits and according to an informed source, “the prison environment has become extremely securitised, with in-person visits severely restricted.”
Their co-defendants Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi were executed at the prison on 19 July and Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari were publicly hanged in Alikhani Square, the scene of the alleged offences, on Tuesday, 28 July.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Abolfazl and Alireza Sepahi, Amirhossein Safari and Ghaem Hosseini were scheduled for execution on Tuesday morning. However, in the end Abolfazl, Alireza and Amirhossein were transferred to the pre-execution solitary confinement cells.”
In the preceding days, Abolfazl, Amirhossein and Alireza were repeatedly transferred back and forth between the isolation suites and the general ward before finally being taken to solitary confinement on the night of their execution.
“Having known since Saturday that their execution was scheduled for Tuesday, Abolfazl's cousin, Alireza, collapsed from a heart attack under intense psychological pressure just minutes before stepping onto the gallows, and had to be rushed to hospital. It’s unclear why Ghaem's execution was halted,” the informed source added.
The defendants in the case were accused of killing four policemen in Alikhani Square during the 8 January protests in Isfahan. Per the judiciary, they were sentenced to death on charges of “membership in baghi groups [those who commit 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 torture-tainted 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.”
IHRNGO previously warned that over 70 protesters, including the defendants in the "Alikhani Square" case, were at risk of the death penalty at Isfahan Central Prison.
Top left to right: Alireza Raisi, Alireza Sepahi Badjani and Ghaem hosseini
Bottom left to right: Shervin Bagherian, Ali Dashti and Amirhossein Maleki