Iran executes two men in Isfahan amid protest related case

Iranian authorities publicly executed two men in the city of Isfahan on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, bringing to four the number of people put to death in a single case linked to nationwide protests that erupted in January. The executions were carried out in Shahid Alikhani Square in the Malekshahr district, according to state-affiliated media.

The judiciary identified the executed men as Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi and Abolfazl Sepahi Badjiani. They were among a group of 12 young men sentenced to death for their alleged roles in the killing of four members of the Basij militia and special police units during clashes in the same square on January 8. Official reports accused the defendants of attacking officers with knives and machetes, binding them, dousing them in gasoline, and setting them on fire, as well as committing arson and vandalism.

The hangings followed the executions of two other defendants in the same case, Golmohammad Mohammadi and Erfan Esfandiari, on July 19. Eight others remain under death sentences. Social media reports in the hours before Tuesday's executions indicated an iron scaffold had been installed in the square, with heavy security forces deployed...