Iranian protester hanged hours after phone wedding with imprisoned fiancée

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 23:48 · Archive

An Iranian anti-regime protester was executed hours after marrying his imprisoned fiancée over a prison phone line.

Alireza Sepahi, 25, was executed at Isfahan Central Prison on 5 October, just hours after marrying his imprisoned fiancée Mahshad Keshani, 22, over a phone line. Both had been arrested during anti-regime protests in January. Keshani, a student activist, is serving a five-year sentence.

The couple exchanged vows on 4 October with their fathers present in the prison. Human rights lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi facilitated the ceremony by reading the vows for the fathers to bless. Keshani's family provided a copy of the Quran, saffron rock candy and a single red rose as a traditional dowry. When Davoudi presented the proposal to Sepahi, the young man wept. Davoudi told The Times: "Alireza was crying, and something deeply painful and beautiful happened. Even the prison officers began to cry." Keshani had pushed for the wedding as fears mounted that Sepahi's execution was imminent.

Davoudi recalled Keshani's determination when he warned her about the permanent nature of her decision. She replied: "Mr Davoudi, I love Alireza." The ceremony held no formal authority to halt the execution. Sepahi had previously avoided execution in the summer after suffering a heart attack on his way to the gallows.

How it is being reported

• Iranian protester hanged hours after marrying his imprisoned fiancée over jail phone lineAlireza Sepahi married his imprisoned fiancée over a prison phone line hours before his execution at Isfahan Central Prison for anti-government protest.Fox News · 8 Oct, 23:33
• Iran executes protester just hours after he married bride in prison wedding over the phoneAn Iranian couple jailed for protesting against the regime were permanently separated after the groom, Alireza Sepahi, was executed just hours after they held a wedding over the phone.New York Post · 8 Oct, 19:35

In this story: Alireza Sepahi · Mahshad Keshani · Amirsalar Davoudi · Isfahan Central Prison · Iran

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