HRANA – Ehsan Hosseinipour Hesarlou, Matin Mohammadi, Erfan Amiri, and Maryam Hodavand, four individuals arrested during the protests of January 2026, have been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. These sentences were issued in connection with the case of the fire at the “Seyyed al-Shohada” mosque in Pakdasht.
These individuals were sentenced to death under a ruling issued by Iman Afshari, judge of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The charges include “participation in the killing of two Basij members” named Ali-Akbar and Taha, “intentional arson of a religious site,” “destruction of public property,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”
According to information received by HRANA, the cited evidence includes alleged participation in protest gatherings on January 8, 2026 in Pakdasht and the throwing of Molotov cocktails into the mosque. A significant portion of the case file is reportedly based on confessions attributed to the defendants, obtained under unclear circumstances, along with reports by case officers and footage said to be from local surveillance cameras.
A source close to the families of the defendants told HRANA that the death sentences of Hosseinipour Hesarlou, Mohammadi, and Amiri have recently been upheld by the Supreme Court and referred to the sentence enforcement branch.
Maryam Hodavand, 45 years old and a mother of two, was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison after her arrest and remains detained there. During the legal proceedings, she was denied access to an independent lawyer, and her case was handled without adherence to fair trial standards.
The status of the other three defendants, including their place of detention, is still under review.
It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.
