Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Iranian Protester Marries Fellow Prisoner Hours Before Execution
Alireza Sepahi and Mahshad Keshani were prisoners in separate cells in Isfahan.
They knew each other before they were arrested.
As Sepahi faced execution, they asked a lawyer to marry them over the phone.
Their fathers listened while the lawyer read the vows.
The short ceremony lasted about nine minutes.
Sepahi was hanged hours later, according to the lawyer.
Authorities said he and other defendants were responsible for the deaths of four security officers during unrest.
The lawyer and an activist said defendants were tortured and that the court did not fairly examine evidence.
Keshani remains in prison, serving a five-year sentence.
Alireza Sepahi, 25, married fellow prisoner Mahshad Keshani by phone while they were held in separate cells in Isfahan.
Their fathers listened as rights lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi read the vows; the ceremony lasted about nine minutes.
Sepahi was executed by hanging on Monday, Oct. 5, hours after the wedding, according to Davoudi.
Authorities said defendants in the Alikhani Square trial were responsible for four security officers’ deaths during January 8 unrest; Davoudi said Sepahi denied being present.
Davoudi and a civil society activist alleged that defendants were tortured and that the court relied on confessions they said were coerced.
- Who
- Alireza Sepahi and Mahshad Keshani, with rights lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi conducting the ceremony.
- What
- Sepahi and Keshani married by phone while held in separate cells; Sepahi was executed hours later.
- When
- The wedding took place Sunday, Oct. 4, and Sepahi was executed Monday, Oct. 5; the article gives no year.
- Where
- A prison in Isfahan, Iran.
- Why
- They sought to marry as Sepahi faced execution; Davoudi hoped the ceremony would draw international attention and help halt it.
Defense and rights advocates
Authorities’ case
Responsibility and trial evidence
Defense and rights advocates
Davoudi said Sepahi denied being present when officers were killed, the court declined to examine potentially relevant footage, and the evidence presented consisted of confessions defendants said were extracted through torture. A civil society activist also alleged coercion and threats.
Authorities’ case
Authorities said defendants in the case were responsible for the deaths of four security officers during unrest on January 8.
- Groom
- Alireza Sepahi, 25
- Bride
- Mahshad Keshani, 22, a student activist serving a five-year sentence
- Ceremony
- Conducted by phone between separate cells; lasted about nine minutes
- Execution
- Sepahi was hanged on Monday, Oct. 5, hours after the ceremony
- Trial
- The Alikhani Square case involved more than a dozen young men accused over the deaths of security officers
- Authorities’ account
- Authorities said defendants were responsible for four officers’ deaths during unrest on January 8
- Reported executions
- Iran Human Rights said at least 32 protesters had been executed in connection with the January protests since March 19