Iranian Marries His Imprisoned Partner via Phone on the Eve of His Execution Amid Protests

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On the eve of the execution, Ali Reza Sibahi, detained in connection with the January protests in Iran, fulfilled his wish to marry his fellow inmate for the same reason, in a ceremony conducted via phone by the lawyer, just hours before facing the noose in the city of Isfahan.

He married Mahshad Kashani (22 years old) according to reports from several human rights organizations.

The man was executed in Isfahan Central Prison on the morning of October 5 along with another man named Ali Reza Raeesi (21 years old), in connection with the protests in Ali Khani Square in Isfahan on January 8, which resulted in the deaths of four police officers according to the authorities.

They were convicted of belonging to an armed group and endangering national security, according to the Mizan agency affiliated with the judiciary.

With their execution, Iran has carried out death sentences against 34 individuals in connection with the protests that peaked on January 8 and 9, according to the Norway-based non-governmental organization "Human Rights in Iran."

Human rights organizations state that the demonstrations were suppressed by a security campaign that resulted in the deaths of thousands and was accompanied by internet service cuts.

Ali Reza Sibahi was arrested on January 10, along with his mother, who remains in custody serving a five-year prison sentence.

His case was marred by "serious procedural flaws," including the "disregard for defense evidence," such as video footage showing his absence from the scene at the time of the incident, according to the U.S.-based human rights organization "Abdul Rahman Boroumand Center."

Death sentences were issued against 12 individuals, including Sibahi, in this case.

Two of them were executed inside the prison on July 19, while Sebahi was scheduled to be hanged publicly on July 28 in the "Ali Khani" square, along with two other men, one of whom is his cousin Abu al-Fadl, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

"But shortly before the scheduled execution, he suffered a heart attack and was taken to the hospital," according to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Maya Sato.

The death sentence was carried out publicly against the other two men.

"He was discharged from the hospital after a few days and returned to prison, where he lived every day in fear of execution, until the moment arrived," according to Sato.

The Revolutionary Court in Isfahan rejected his appeal, and his relatives were called for a final meeting. But Sebahi had a final plan.

His lawyer arranged a voice call with Kashani, who is imprisoned in Isfahan but in another prison, to hold the wedding ceremony before his execution, after obtaining the approval of their parents.

The lawyer asked the parents, "Do you grant me permission" to complete the marriage with a dowry consisting of "a copy of the Holy Quran, a piece of sugar, and a red rose," to which both replied "yes," according to the audio recording published by human rights organizations including the Iran Human Rights Organization.

Prison officials refused to grant the couple permission to meet face-to-face for the last time.

Roya Boroumand, co-founder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, said, "The lawyers hoped that perhaps the marriage would lead to a postponement of the execution. But the authorities said that the fiancée is not related to the prisoner, and they prevented the wedding ceremony from being held with both parties present."

She added, "They got married, but in absentia. The legal procedures were completed, but not inside the prison with both individuals present."

Sato mentioned that even after the execution of Sibahi, "the tragedy continued for his family," as his body was not delivered for burial in Isfahan, but was transferred to the city of Kashan, which is about 200 kilometers away.