Mehdi Ghasemi

Execution by hanging

Mehdi Ghasemi was executed by hanging following his conviction for “moharebeh,” after Iranian judicial authorities found him guilty of participating in the killing of police officers during the January protests. His sentence was confirmed through the judicial system prior to his execution in Qom on March 19, 2026. While the state maintained that the execution was a lawful punishment for violent crimes, multiple human rights organizations reported that the case was marked by serious procedural violations, including allegations that his confession was obtained under torture and that he was denied effective access to independent legal counsel. These groups argued that the trial did not meet international standards for fairness, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the conviction leading to his death.