Iranian activist Sheyda Rahbari highlights the recent rise in executions of political dissidents by the Iranian regime. The government intensifies its grip by threatening citizens with arrest and execution. Rahbari points to the tragic case of 18-year-old protestor Amir Hussein Hamedi, executed for allegedly participating in anti-government activities.
The Times reported that on October 5, Iranian dissident Alireza Sepahi was hanged in Isfahan Central Prison shortly after his phone marriage to fellow prisoner Mahshad Keshani. Sepahi, 25, and his co-defendant Alireza Raisi faced execution following their convictions related to protests in Isfahan on January 8.
Keshani and Sepahi, both student activists, knew each other prior to their arrests during demonstrations against the regime. Facing mounting fear of Sepahi’s execution, the couple exchanged vows over the phone from within the prison. Their fathers participated in the informal ceremony facilitated by human rights lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi, who read vows for the fathers to bless.
“It was Mahshad’s idea,” Davoudi told The Times. “Even now, I wonder how one young woman can possess such courage.” He warned Keshani of the irrevocable nature of her decision, to which she responded, “Mr Davoudi, I love Alireza.”
The ceremony had no authority to stop the execution. Sepahi had survived a previous hanging attempt after suffering a heart attack on his way to the gallows in July. Authorities rescheduled his execution following his recovery. On a Monday morning, shortly after the vows, Sepahi was executed.
Sepahi was one of seven defendants executed linked to the Alikhani Square case, where 12 men were charged in connection to the deaths of four security personnel. After the execution, authorities reportedly prevented Sepahi’s family from burying him in his hometown.
Human rights groups note Keshani remains detained, now facing more charges. Human rights advocate Maryam Rajavi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has urged U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres for immediate international intervention. Her letter calls for accountability and investigations to end ongoing executions in Iran.
Emma Bussey, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, previously worked for The Telegraph across multiple fields, including foreign, politics, and cultural news.