Erfan Esfandiari, 18, and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, 24, were executed on Sunday morning in Isfahan in the “Alikhani Square” case, where 10 remaining prisoners face the imminent risk of execution. The charges include “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and “corruption on earth.”
The execution of January 2026 protesters, which began on 19 March (the eve of the Persian New Year), has continued unabated.
On Sunday morning, 19 July 2026, two more protesters from the January uprising, Erfan Esfandiari, 18, and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, 24 (an Afghan national), were secretly executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
The judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency reported that the two were convicted on charges including the use of firearms and Molotov cocktails, the destruction of police stations and checkpoints, blocking streets by burning tires, and the killing of four law enforcement officers. According to the judiciary, the incident took place in Alikhani Square in Isfahan during what the authorities described as an attempt to “overthrow the system.” The report stated that the protesters were armed with guns and Molotov cocktails when they attacked police stations, set fire to public property and tires, and blocked roads.
In the same case, known as the “Alikhani Square” case, the judiciary has sentenced 12 people to death on similar charges. With the execution of these two prisoners, 10 others remain at immediate risk of execution.
On the previous day, Saturday 18 July 2026, all 12 prisoners were removed from the general ward of Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan under the pretext of a “meeting with the case judge.” Following their sudden transfer, fellow inmates staged a protest over the lack of information about their fate. The 10 remaining prisoners are now believed to be held in solitary confinement and face the imminent risk of execution.
The death sentences were issued by two government-appointed judges, Mohammad Reza Tavakoli and Mohammad Barati Darcheh. The defendants were denied access to independent legal counsel.
Broader Wave of Executions
Iran’s judiciary has fast-tracked death sentences against January 2026 protesters. On 14 July, the Tehran Prosecutor announced that protest-related cases had been fully processed and referred to court, with sentences including both imprisonment and execution.
On 15 July, two additional protesters were executed:
- Aref Khoshkar, arrested during the 2022 uprising, at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on charges including the alleged killing of a Basij member.
- Mohammad Amini Dehaghani, arrested during the January 2026 uprising in Isfahan, on charges including moharebeh (waging war against God) and setting fire to government and police buildings in Dehaghan.
The wave of executions of January protesters began on 19 March 2026 (the eve of the Persian New Year) with the execution of three prisoners in Qom: national wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi (19), Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi. Since then, many others have been executed in various cities, including Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Rasht, Mashhad, and Naein.
Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, who was reappointed on 5 July 2026 by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has repeatedly defended and pushed for the swift implementation of these death sentences. On 30 April 2026, he stated: “Who are you to say there should be no executions?… Sentences should be issued sooner and implemented according to the law,” dismissing international calls to halt the executions.