[49238] Execution of three detainees from the January protests in Mashhad

Execution of three detainees from the January protests in Mashhad

On Sunday, May 4, 2026, official media in Iran, including the IRNA News Agency and local news channels, reported the execution of three people: Mahdi Rasouli (25), Mohammad-Reza Miri (21), and Ebrahim Dolat-Abadi. The three were tried for their involvement in the protests that took place in January 2026 in Mashhad.

Claims of the Iranian Regime

According to official statements by Iranian judicial authorities, the three were accused of "cooperation with the Mossad" and direct involvement in the death of a security officer named Hamid-Reza Yousefi-Nejad. Officials, including IRGC channels, described the actions as a "conspiracy" and claimed that evidence of ties to foreign entities and improvised weapons was found on their phones, and that they had confessed to the charges against them.

Reports from human rights organizations

Conversely, the HRANA human rights website and media outlets outside Iran, such as Deutsche Welle in Persian, present a different picture. According to these reports, the defendants testified to their associates that they "were subjected to severe torture" and were forced to plead guilty. It is also alleged that security officials promised their families that if they remained silent and did not publicize their arrest in the media, the sentence would be commuted to imprisonment, which led to the case not receiving international exposure until the sentence was carried out.

Reactions from the field

The news sparked protests outside Iran, with Iranian activists in Naples holding demonstrations in support of political prisoners at risk of execution. At the same time, various organizations on social media, including Vahid Online, highlighted the situation of the detainees' families, who were left without information about the condition of their loved ones until after their deaths.