Isfahan Prison: Alireza Sepahi Marries Fiancee Over Phone Before Execution

Alireza Sepahi, a 25‑year‑old protester, was hanged at Isfahan’s central prison on October 5 after a phone‑based marriage to his 22‑year‑old fiancée Mahshad Kashani the day before. The execution, carried out alongside 21‑year‑old Alireza Raissi, marked the latest in a wave of 34 death sentences that the Iranian judiciary has imposed for alleged participation in January protests.

Sepahi was arrested on January 10, the day after the Alikhani Square clashes that left four police officers dead. He faced charges of membership in an armed group and endangering national security, with evidence that was later dismissed as procedural flaws.

He survived a public execution scheduled for July 28 after a heart attack forced his transfer to a hospital. The authorities carried out the execution of two other men that day, but Sepahi was returned to prison, living each day in fear of the next blow.

In the days leading up to his execution, his lawyer arranged an audio call with Kashani, who was jailed in another prison, to recite vows. Both parents approved, offering a dowry of a copy of the Quran, rock candy, and a red rose, as captured in the recording shared by rights groups.

Authorities denied the couple a final in‑person meeting, citing that Kashani was not a relative of the prisoner. The marriage, therefore, was conducted in absentia but was legally recognized, a move that could have delayed the execution.

After the execution, his body was transferred to Kashan for burial, 200 km from Isfahan, a fact that has been described by human rights groups as a continued horror for his family.