Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani
Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani (2003–2026) was an Iranian citizen executed by the Islamic Republic in July 2026 following his participation in anti-government protests earlier that year.
Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani was a 23-year-old Iranian national who became a symbol of the Iranian regime's continued use of capital punishment to suppress domestic dissent. Badjani was executed in public on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Ali Khani Square in the city of Isfahan. His execution, carried out alongside Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, followed their conviction for the alleged killing of police officers during widespread anti-government protests that occurred in January 2026.
The case against Badjani is representative of the Iranian judiciary's handling of political unrest, where protesters are frequently charged with 'moharebeh' (enmity against God) or the murder of security personnel in trials that international human rights observers often describe as lacking due process. According to Iranian state media, specifically outlets affiliated with the security apparatus like Fars News Agency, the execution was a legal implementation of 'qisas' (retribution). However, opposition sources and local reports indicate that the public nature of the execution was intended to serve as a deterrent against further civil disobedience.
On the morning of his execution, crowds reportedly gathered near Ali Khani Square in an attempt to witness or protest the event, leading to a heavy deployment of security forces who used dispersal tactics to maintain control. The execution of Badjani underscores the persistent tension between the Iranian citizenry and the IRGC-backed leadership, particularly as the regime faces ongoing economic instability and social unrest. For Israel and the broader international community, such events highlight the internal fragility of the Iranian regime and its reliance on high-profile judicial violence to maintain domestic sovereignty. Badjani's death adds to the growing list of young Iranians executed in the aftermath of the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement and subsequent waves of protest.