Iran is reportedly planning to execute Bita Hemmati, the first female protester sentenced for her involvement in the January 2026 uprising in Tehran, according to human rights organizations. Hemmati, along with three other individuals, including her husband, Mohammad Reza Majid Asr, received collective death sentences.
The couple’s neighbors, Behruz Zamaninejad and Kourosh Zamaninejad, were also sentenced to death, and their relative, Amir Hemmati, received a five-year prison term. These sentences add to the series of death penalties amid a severe governmental crackdown on protests. It is estimated that thousands of demonstrators have lost their lives since the unrest began earlier this year.
Interestingly, the Tehran Revolutionary Court charged the defendants with various offenses, including actions that allegedly compromised national security with ties to a “hostile US government.” Officials stated that the accused engaged in “anti-regime propaganda” during protests on January 8 and 9. They reportedly used explosives and weapons while injuring security personnel.
The execution date for the sentenced individuals has yet to be revealed. The court also imposed a five-year discretionary sentence along with the confiscation of assets. Amir Hemmati, a co-defendant, faced specific charges of colluding against national security and engaging in propaganda against the regime.
There have been significant concerns over the treatment of the defendants, with human rights activists suggesting that they may have endured torture during interrogations, leading to potentially coerced confessions. Efforts to halt the death sentences argue that the Iranian government is attempting to intimidate its population to deter future protests.
The protests began in late December 2025, triggered by an economic crisis characterized by a collapsing currency and rampant inflation. This unrest quickly escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations across several cities. Involved in the conflict, Washington agreed to initiate Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, which included a significant airstrike in collaboration with Israel, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
