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IRAN - Sasan Azadvar executed on April 30 in Isfahan
April 30, 2026: April 30, 2026 - IRAN. Sasan Azadvar (Sasan Azadvar Junaqani) executed on April 30 in Isfahan
A 'January protester'
State media have reported the execution of Sasan Azadvar, a young protester arrested in connection to the January protests in Isfahan. He was accused of throwing stones, using a club to break the windows of a police minibus, attempting to procure petrol to set the vehicle on fire during and inciting others to join the protests. IHR has established the location of his execution as Isfahan Central Prison.
This morning, IHR published a report identifying 44 protesters at risk of execution, a figure that included Sasan. With his sentence carried out today, at least 43 individuals remain at risk of execution, including two women and three teenagers who were reportedly under the age of 18 at the time of their arrest.
IHR Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam stated: “While the world’s attention remains focused on the war and ceasefire negotiations, the authorities continue to execute protesters. The Islamic Republic views its own people, especially the youth, as its primary existential threat, and uses the death penalty as a tool to silence dissent and maintain power.”
According to the judiciary’s Mizan News Agency, Sasan Azadvar, a 21-year-old Kyokushin karate champion and protester arrested in relation to the January protests in Isfahan, was hanged at an unspecified location on 30 April 2026. IHR has established the location of his execution as Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison. He was sentenced to death on the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God) through “throwing stones, using a club to destroy police vehicle windows, attempting to set the minibus on fire, and inciting the public to riot,” which the Revolutionary Court explicitly ruled was an act of "effective cooperation with the enemy" carried out at “the official invitation of the Zionist regime and the US president.”
Sasan was arrested on 3 January, per informed IHR sources. According to the state report, his forced confessions were admitted as formal evidence to corroborate the state's charges. No independent information is available regarding the circumstances surrounding his case. IHRNGO previously reported that Sasan’s family were summoned to the prison for the final family visit on 28 April.
Sasan Azadvar is the tenth protester executed in relation to the December 2025/January 2026 protests. The implementation of death sentences in Iran had been largely halted following the start of US and Israeli military attacks on 28 February.
The execution of protesters arrested in relation to December 2025–January 2026 began 42 days ago, on 19 March. Authorities have announced the execution of nine protesters thus far. Saleh Mohammadi, Saeed Davodi and Mehdi Ghasemi were hanged in Qom Central Prison on 19 March. Amirhossein Hatami, was hanged on 2 April. His co-defendants, Mohammad Amin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast were also hanged in Ghezelhesar Prison on 5 April, and Ali Fahim was hanged at the prison on 6 April. Amir Ali Mir Jafari was hanged on 21 April and Erfan Kiani was hanged on 25 April.
Since 18 March, at least ten political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups and two men accused of espionage for Israel, have also been executed.
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/8718/
https://www.en-hrana.org/january-protests-21-year-old-sasan-azadvar-junaqani-executed/
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/04/article-102 (Source: IHR)
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