Ashkan Maleki and Mehrdad Mohammadinia, two Kurdish political prisoners from Qorveh who were arrested during the January 2026 protests and had previously been sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion against God” (moharebeh), were executed at dawn today in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
According to Kolbarnews, in the early hours of Monday, June 1, 2026, the death sentences of Ashkan Maleki and Mehrdad Mohammadinia were carried out suddenly and without prior notification to their families at Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
The two political prisoners were among those arrested during the January 2026 protests and had been sentenced to death in a joint case alongside Arman Marefati, a Kurdish citizen from Saqqez, by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic.
Hours after the executions were carried out, Mizan News Agency, the media outlet affiliated with the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic, officially confirmed the executions in a published report. Human rights organizations had previously warned of the imminent risk that the sentences would be implemented.
Ashkan Maleki, Mehrdad Mohammadinia, and Arman Marefati had been sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion against God” by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati. According to published reports, the verdicts were issued after months of detention under circumstances in which the defendants were deprived of free access to legal counsel of their choice and many other due process rights.
The judiciary of the Islamic Republic accused the three citizens of participating in the arson and destruction of several religious centers and public properties during protests in Tehran on the evening of January 9, 2026. At the same time, media outlets affiliated with security institutions broadcast televised confessions and accused them of cooperating with foreign governments and engaging in organized activities. These allegations have been rejected by their families and human rights organizations.
While the death sentences of Ashkan Maleki and Mehrdad Mohammadinia have now been carried out, concerns have intensified regarding the situation of Arman Marefati, the third defendant in the case, who is currently being held in Greater Tehran Prison (Fashafouyeh). There are growing fears that his death sentence may also be carried out in the near future.
Human rights organizations have condemned the execution of the two political prisoners and have called for immediate action by the international community to prevent the implementation of death sentences against other political prisoners, including Arman Marefati.
