On Tuesday morning, July 28, 2026 (6 Mordad 1405), 25-year-old protester Alireza Sepahi suffered a severe stroke moments before his scheduled execution. Specifically, medical staff rushed him to Alzahra Hospital in Isfahan, where doctors resuscitated him. However, prison authorities immediately returned him to Dastgerd Prison following emergency treatment. Consequently, the Alireza Sepahi execution risk remains imminent despite his critical physical condition.
Security forces initially arrested Sepahi on January 10, 2026, during the nationwide demonstrations in Isfahan. According to family sources, armed agents opened fire inside his family home during the raid, damaging the building.
Secretive Trial Inside Dastgerd Prison
Authorities tried Sepahi alongside his cousin, Abolfazl Sepahi, in connection with the Alikhani Square incident in Isfahan. In addition, state prosecutors charged him with multiple security offenses. However, defense attorneys were completely denied full access to case files and evidence.
Furthermore, the trial took place inside Dastgerd Prison via video conference. Crucially, surveillance footage and documentation showed Sepahi was in another part of the city when the incident occurred. Despite this solid alibi evidence, Judge Morteza Barati ignored the defense and sentenced him to four death sentences. You can read more about revolutionary court trials on our Political Prisoners archive.
Co-Defendants Executed While Sepahi Was Hospitalized
Sepahi’s medical emergency temporarily halted his hanging, but his co-defendants faced immediate execution. Specifically, authorities publicly hanged his cousin Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari on the morning of July 28. In addition, officials had already executed two other co-defendants, Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, days prior.
International Condemnation of the Alikhani Square Case
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the mass trials in the Alikhani Square case, labeling the proceedings deeply unfair and built on torture-tainted confessions. Moreover, UN human rights experts have called for an immediate halt to all executions linked to this file. Ultimately, returning a prisoner to a execution cell immediately after a life-threatening stroke violates basic humanitarian standards. Therefore, human rights organizations demand an immediate suspension of the sentence, access to independent medical care, and a full review of the trial.
