HRANA – Mehdi Rasouli and Mohammadreza Miri, two prisoners connected to the January protests, were executed at dawn yesterday, May 3, in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. The two had previously been sentenced to death in a case related to the killing of a Basij member.

According to HRANA, at dawn on Sunday, May 3, 2026, the death sentences of Mehdi Rasouli, 25, and Mohammadreza Miri, 21, were carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

A source familiar with Mehdi Rasouli’s case told HRANA:
“A video showing the beating of a Basij member during the January protests in Mashhad was found on Mehdi Rasouli’s mobile phone. Security agencies claimed that the attacker was Mehdi Rasouli and another individual, and that the Basij member seen in the video died as a result of the beating.”

The source added:
“Mr. Rasouli had questioned the validity of these claims, but had told his relatives that due to severe beatings and torture, he was forced to accept the charges. These coerced confessions became the main evidence against him in the case.”

According to this source, security agencies had pressured his family and relatives into silence by promising that his sentence would be reduced if they remained quiet. Due to the family’s silence and lack of public information dissemination, these two prisoners had remained unknown to human rights groups.

On Saturday, at around 3:00 PM, Mehdi Rasouli informed his family in a phone call that he was being transferred to solitary confinement. This morning, the families of the two prisoners were informed of the execution of their sons, and their bodies were handed over to the families at around 10:00 AM.

Yesterday afternoon, Mehdi Rasouli’s body was buried under security measures in a village near Kashmar. The execution of the two prisoners has also been confirmed by Marzieh Mohseni, a legal expert.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.