The Independent World
· collected 2026-09-05 · by Amirhossein Miresmaeili
This article appeared on our partner site, Independent Persian
Eight months after Donald Trump promised to protect protesters in Iran, the brutal killings continue.
asserted
killings → appear → Iran
As more detainees from the national uprising of January 2026 are executed, information obtained by Independent Persian indicates that dozens more protesters are facing either final death sentences or charges such as “enmity against God” and “corruption on Earth”, which can carry the death penalty.
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which → execute → penalty
Families of several prisoners say their loved ones have been denied access to lawyers of their choice and that, in some cases, confessions obtained under pressure and torture have become the primary evidence used to issue death sentences.
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confessions → say → sentences
Human rights activists in Iran and several released political prisoners have also told Independent Persian that the names made public represent only a fraction of those sentenced to death.
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names → release → death
According to these sources, interrogators and judicial officials have promised families that if they keep the case out of the media, there may be a chance of securing a reduced sentence.
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they → accord → sentence
In other cases, independent lawyers have not been permitted to participate, while families have remained silent out of fear of increased pressure on the prisoner.
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families → permit → prisoner
The January anti-government demonstrations were met with the most severe crackdown in the Islamic Republic's history, during which thousands of protesters were reportedly killed by security forces.
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thousands → meet → forces
When the protests erupted, Trump warned authorities against firing on demonstrators and portrayed himself as a defender of the Iranian people.
But despite pledging his help, Iranians have been left to cope with economic hardship, destroyed homes and unemployment as well as the impact of the war launched in February.
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Iranians → erupt → February
Earlier this week, Trump asked when the Iranian people would “rise up and fight”, in a sign of growing frustration over his inability to exit the conflict.
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people → ask → conflict
One of the most recent cases is that of Mehrdad Takesh, 33, from Dizicheh, Isfahan, who has been sentenced to death twice on the charge of “enmity against God”.
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who → sentence → God
A source familiar with the matter told Independent Persian that Takesh was arrested on 14 January and was severely tortured in detention, causing both of his hands to be broken.
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both → tell → hands
His family had no precise information about his whereabouts for four months, until he eventually contacted them from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
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he → have → Isfahan
The source stressed that, apart from confessions obtained from Mehrdad Takesh under torture, there is no other evidence to substantiate the charges against him.
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source → stress → him
His family fears his execution could be carried out without prior notice.
uncertain
execution → fear → notice
Prior to his arrest, Takesh ran a motorcycle repair shop in Dizicheh.
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Takesh → run → Dizicheh
Also in Isfahan, Sepehr Amirzadeh, a medical student in his early twenties, has been sentenced to death on the same charge.
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Amirzadeh → sentence → charge
Security forces arrested Amirzadeh at his home on 15 January, and transferred him to Dastgerd Prison.
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forces → arrest → Prison
Details surrounding the charge against the young student have yet to be disclosed.
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Details → surround → student
In Mashhad, the Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence issued by a Revolutionary Court for the same charge.
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Court → uphold → charge
Rasoul Rezaei, a resident of Fariman, was arrested in the early hours of 10 January.
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Rezaei → arrest → January
He has been denied access to a lawyer of his choice, telephone calls and family visits.
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He → deny → choice
Independent Persian has also learned that at least 20 people detained during the Iranian national uprising in Mashhad are at risk of execution.
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people → learn → execution
Details have so far emerged about five of them: Mehdi Zarif, Mohammad Zanganeh, Ali Zaghi, Vahid Khedrikhah and Najmeh Amini.
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Details → emerge → them
They were arrested during protests in Mashhad and Shandiz and face serious charges, including “enmity against God”.
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They → arrest → God
Reports indicate that they have been denied access to lawyers and family visits and subjected to torture and threats during interrogation.
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they → indicate → interrogation
Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old accounting student, was arrested in Mashhad on 2 February and is currently being held in Vakilabad Prison on the charge of “enmity against God”.
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Amini → arrest → God
Her family says the initial reason for her arrest was several protest-related posts on her personal Instagram account.
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reason → say → account
Officers beat and arrested her while she was shopping.
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she → beat → her
Amini spent two days in security police custody, where sources say she was forced to confess.
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she → spend → custody
She has been denied access to a lawyer throughout her detention.
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She → deny → detention
Shamsi Khosravi, 44, from Saqqez, is held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, on charges of “corruption on Earth” and “espionage for Israel”.
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Khosravi → hold → Israel
According to human rights sources, Abolqasem Salavati, the judge presiding over Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, told her during a hearing that “no sentence other than death” awaited her.
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sentence → accord → her
She was arrested on 5 March and held in enforced disappearance for two months without any means of contacting her family.
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She → arrest → family
Ali Rahimi Rigi, 31, from Lordegan, also faces charges of “enmity against God” and “corruption on Earth”.
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Rigi → face → Earth
He was arrested on 30 January and initially held for around two weeks in solitary confinement at the Shahrekord Intelligence Department.
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He → arrest → Department
Judicial authorities refused to accept the lawyer chosen by his family and appointed a court-assigned lawyer instead.
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authorities → refuse → lawyer
At an online hearing, Rahimi Rigi rejected the court-appointed lawyer and requested access to his own representative, but proceedings continued.
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proceedings → reject → representative
Mehdi Roshani, detained during the 6 January protests in Malekshahi, was held without any contact with the outside world for two months and tortured into making a forced confession that led to his death sentence.
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that → detain → sentence
Roshani was released on bail in late May but was arrested again around two weeks later.
uncertain
Roshani → release → May
A source familiar with the matter said his family is from an underprivileged background and has been pressured to remain silent.
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family → say → background
…and 19 more, not listed.
