Alireza Sepahi and Mahshad Keshani, two Iranian protesters imprisoned in Isfahan, were married last Sunday despite being held in separate cells, with Sepahi facing imminent execution. The 25-year-old Sepahi, convicted in connection with the deaths of security officers during unrest in January, was under multiple death sentences, while Keshani, 22, is serving a five-year prison term for political activism.
The wedding took place without the couple being physically present together. Their vows were read aloud by Amirsalar Davoudi, a human rights lawyer based in Tehran, while both men’s fathers participated via phone. The couple’s symbolic dowry included a copy of the Quran, saffron rock candy, and a red rose. Davoudi described the marriage as driven by Keshani’s courage and love, hoping it might draw international attention to Sepahi’s case and potentially halt his execution.
Sepahi was arrested during nationwide protests in January at his family home. He was tried in the so-called “Alikhani Square” court alongside more than a dozen young men accused of killing four security officers during demonstrations. Rights defenders have challenged the trial’s fairness, citing allegations of torture, forced confessions, and denial of evidence such as footage that might have established Sepahi’s whereabouts during the incident. Iranian authorities maintain the defendants’ culpability in the security officers’ deaths.
On Monday morning, only hours after the wedding ceremony, Sepahi was executed by hanging, according to Davoudi. This marked the sixth execution among those tried in the Alikhani Square case and follows at least 32 deaths of protesters linked to the January unrest, as reported by the Iran Human Rights organisation.
Earlier in July, Sepahi narrowly escaped execution after suffering a heart attack shortly before a planned public hanging. He remained unconscious for several days in hospital, and his family was warned that regaining consciousness would lead to his execution. After his return to prison, Keshani contacted Davoudi to formalize their relationship, expressing her determination despite the risks. Keshani has been imprisoned multiple times for her political activism, including a prior detention with other students and civil society activists in mid-2023. She was sentenced last year on charges such as “propaganda against the system,” and her sentence was upheld on appeal.
The marriage ceremony, which lasted about nine minutes, received family consent from both sides, including Keshani’s father, who acknowledged the severe circumstances but supported his daughter’s decision. Davoudi described emotional moments during the process, noting that even some prison officers were moved.
Critics argue that the judicial proceedings against Sepahi and others lack transparency and rely heavily on confessions obtained under duress and torture. The presence of multiple masked Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) interrogators during the trial, combined with reports from former cellmates alleging torture and threats, has raised serious concerns from human rights groups. Davoudi, who himself spent years imprisoned for his advocacy, challenged the use of the term "execution," suggesting the killings represent state actions without legitimate legal process.
The case underscores continuing tensions in Iran following the January protests, with authorities maintaining a hard line against dissent and activists facing severe penalties, including the death penalty.