Death Sentences for 12 Isfahan Protesters Referred for Execution

Iran HRM reported that death sentences against 12 young men from Isfahan, convicted over their role in January 2026 nationwide protests, were forwarded to the Enforcement Unit of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on July 5, placing them at imminent risk of execution. The defendants, aged 18–27 and including one Afghan national, were tried in group sessions of only three one-hour hearings for 59 defendants, were denied independently chosen legal counsel, and allege confessions were extracted through torture. One defendant, Alireza Sepahi, 24, received four separate capital sentences. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, called for urgent international intervention as part of a broader surge in political executions since the February 2026 conflict.