Iran Executes Protesters in Isfahan Amid Grave Torture and Forced Confession Allegations

Iranian authorities executed Alireza Sepahi and Alireza Raeisi at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan following their convictions in the contentious 'Alikhani Square' case. The two men were arrested in connection with clashes during protests that left four security officers dead. Their executions bring the total number of individuals put to death in this single case to seven, out of fourteen defendants originally sentenced to capital punishment.

Human rights advocates and sources close to the victims allege severe due process violations, including forced confessions extracted through physical and psychological torture. Informed sources reported that security agents shot Sepahi in both legs during his arrest, detained his ailing mother, and subjected his family members to abuse to coerce admissions. 'Family members were tortured together and threatened, while Alireza was beaten until he temporarily lost his ability to speak,' a source close to the case told DW Persian.

Judicial officials claimed Sepahi was armed and attempted to evade capture, but family sources strongly disputed this narrative, highlighting a lack of credible evidence tying the defendants directly to the deaths of the officers. Observers noted that the prosecution relied primarily on brief video snippets showing only Sepahi's presence in the square hours before the incident, rather than documenting any violent acts.

Rights organizations continue to condemn the accelerated executions tied to protest crackdowns across Iran, citing systematically flawed judicial proceedings and a reliance on coerced statements. The implementation of capital sentences in the Alikhani Square case reflects a broader campaign by the Islamic Republic to deter dissent through severe judicial retribution.