Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, Detained During the January 2026 Uprising, Executed

Breathing in Confinement, Sunday, 19 July 2026: The death sentences of at least two political prisoners in the case known as the “Alikhani Square case,” Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, who were detained during the protests in January this year, were carried out in Isfahan Prison.

According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, the death sentences of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, both detained during the protests in January this year and defendants in the case known as the “Alikhani Square case,” were carried out at dawn on Sunday, 19 July, in Isfahan Prison. The remaining prisoners who were transferred are still being held in solitary confinement.

Breathing in Confinement had previously reported that these political prisoners had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the implementation of their death sentences and had announced that their families had been summoned for final visits.

Erfan Esfandiari, who was 18 years old at the time of his arrest, was detained on 18 January during this year’s nationwide protests. Following the events associated with the case known as the “Alikhani Square case” in Isfahan on 8 January, during which intense clashes between protesters and security forces were reported, officials announced that four members of the police and Basij forces had been killed. Following these events, at least 59 people were arrested.

Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, a 23-year-old Afghan national, was arrested in January this year during the nationwide protests and sentenced to death twice on the charge of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) in connection with his presence during the events at Alikhani Square.

According to reports, the defendants in this case were tried before Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Barati Darcheh, with Judge Mohammad Tavakoli also participating in the proceedings. Twelve of those arrested were sentenced to death. On 9 July, the Supreme Court upheld the sentences and referred the case to the Enforcement of Judgments Unit for implementation.

Breathing in Confinement reported yesterday that 12 prisoners sentenced to death, along with two other political prisoners, had been transferred to solitary confinement.

According to published information, following his arrest, Erfan Esfandiari was subjected to severe psychological pressure and torture, which reportedly resulted in forced confessions being obtained from him. In addition, the proceedings in his case have faced serious criticism over failures to uphold fair trial standards, including a lack of effective access to a lawyer of his own choosing and a lack of transparency in the judicial process.

No Official Announcement by State Sources

At the time of publication of this report, no official state source had announced the executions of these prisoners.