In the early hours of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the death sentences of two young protesters, Javad Zamani and Abolfazl Saedi, both 24 years old and from Shahroud, were carried out at Shahroud Central Prison.
According to reports received by HANA Human Rights Organization, both men, who were under the age of 25, had been among those arrested during the nationwide uprising of January 2026. They had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and “efsad fil-arz” (corruption on earth), and their sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court. Reports also indicate that the families of the two prisoners were summoned to the prison for a final visit only one day before the executions were carried out.
HANA Human Rights Organization stated that Javad Zamani and Abolfazl Saedi were denied access to independent legal counsel throughout the arrest and trial proceedings. According to information received, they were subjected to severe physical and psychological torture during interrogation to extract forced confessions, confessions which, according to informed sources, played a decisive role in the issuance of their death sentences.
While condemning the carrying out of these sentences, HANA emphasizes that the issuance and execution of death sentences in cases where there are multiple reports of due process violations, denial of access to independent legal counsel, and the extraction of forced confessions constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights standards and the right to life. The organization also expresses deep concern over the continued execution of sentences in cases of a political and security nature, and calls on judicial and security institutions to uphold their legal and international obligations in guaranteeing the rights of the accused and ensuring fair trial standards.