At dawn on Tuesday, the Iranian government executed two protesters in Isfahan’s Alikhani Square, a move intended to deter dissent but which instead sparked widespread public outrage. Abolfazl Sepahi-Badejani, 23, and Amirhossein Safari-Hosseinaabadi, 27, were hanged in front of grieving family members as well as protesters who had gathered overnight, chanting slogans against security forces.

In a final act of defiance, Abolfazl removed his execution hood, kissed the noose around his neck, and made a heart symbol with his fingers toward the crowd. The gesture quickly spread on social media, becoming a potent symbol of resistance amid increasing state violence.

According to Iranian lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, who has a long history of defending activists, the public executions are a calculated attempt to incite fear not only among those sentenced but across society. He described these events as turning justice into a display of power, highlighting that the regime’s claims against the two men—accused of killing security personnel during protests—lack independent and verifiable evidence. Mostafaei added that defendants in Iran are often denied access to genuine legal counsel or appeals.

Despite the heavy security presence, protesters remained in Alikhani Square from midnight until around 6 a.m., chanting slogans rejecting the regime and its religious authority. Witnesses report gunfire eventually dispersed the crowd and killed a woman, but anger quickly spread throughout Isfahan. Videos circulating online reveal heightened frustration and calls for revenge in cities including Tehran and Mashhad, as well as along public transport and marketplaces. Some citizens expressed disappointment at perceived inaction from international human rights bodies and the United Nations.

The executions come amid ongoing unrest tied to demonstrations in January, when clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in several deaths, including four policemen and Basij members in Isfahan. Authorities arrested at least 59 individuals connected to those incidents. Earlier in July, two other defendants were executed in the same city.

Abolfazl’s cousin, Alireza Sepahi, reportedly suffered a heart attack en route to his scheduled execution on Tuesday and was hospitalized. Meanwhile, four other prisoners—Ghaem Hosseini, Amirhossein Maleki, Ali Dashti, and Shervin Bagherian—have been placed in solitary confinement after receiving final family visits, indicating imminent executions.

The No Execution campaign continues amid these developments, with reports of hunger strikes across 56 Iranian prisons. Around 1,500 inmates at Qezel Hesar Prison are said to be awaiting execution, some engaging in sit-ins and hunger strikes. Many executions reportedly occur in secrecy, shielding families and human rights observers from scrutiny.

Opposition figures and Iranian diaspora communities abroad have condemned the increasing use of capital punishment. Reza Pahlavi, a prominent opposition leader, described the executed men as “brave heroes” and called for stronger international pressure to halt further deaths. Protests have taken place in cities across Australia, Europe, and North America, with demonstrators urging Western governments to take concrete action.

In addition to prison executions, repression continues beyond detention centers. On July 26, Mehdi Tavakoli, a former political prisoner and director of the House of Photographers, along with his sister Somayeh and mother Maryam Aslani, were reportedly shot and killed by Revolutionary Guard intelligence forces near Baneh-Marivan road. Their burials took place under heavy security in Sanandaj.

Legal experts advocate for coordinated diplomatic efforts to demand a moratorium on executions, access to independent legal representation for defendants, and accountability from Iranian officials. They urge governments, including Australia’s, to offer practical support to UN investigations and protect those risking their lives to document abuses. Mostafaei emphasized that the regime’s reliance on public executions signals its insecurity rather than strength, underscoring the ongoing volatility within Iran.