A long-distance marriage and an execution just hours later have shocked public opinion in Iran and beyond. Alireza Sepahi, 25, was hanged on October 5 at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Just hours earlier, he had married his 22-year-old girlfriend, Mahshad Kashani, by phone while she was being held at another facility.
With the help of a lawyer and in the presence of family members, the ceremony was conducted over a phone call. The authorities did not allow them to meet one last time, although their families tried to make it happen. A Quran, a traditional Persian sweet and a red rose were used as symbols during the ceremony.
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Sepahi was arrested in January 2026 during protests against the Iranian government. He was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in a case concerning the killing of four members of the security forces.
The young man and his lawyers rejected the charges. Human rights organizations expressed concern about the judicial process, as well as allegations of torture, pressure on family members and restrictions on the right to a defense.
In July, Sepahi escaped execution after suffering a serious cardiac problem shortly before the sentence was to be carried out. However, his lawyers’ efforts to reopen the case failed to save him.
After the execution, the family was reportedly prevented from burying him in Isfahan, and his body was sent to the city of Kashan. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that his wife was facing pressure in prison to deny the marriage conducted just hours before his death.
The incident has once again drawn attention to concerns over the implementation of the death penalty and respect for human rights in Iran.
