Iran executes political prisoner Aref Khoshkar arrested during 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests

Hengaw – Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Iranian authorities executed political prisoner Aref Khoshkar, who was arrested during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) protests, at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Khoshkar, a political prisoner from Tehran, was executed at dawn on July 15, 2026, at Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Sources familiar with the case said Khoshkar’s family was informed of his execution at about 8 a.m., after the sentence had already been carried out. Prison authorities refused to immediately release his body to the family and transferred it to the Behesht Zahra morgue in Tehran at around 11 a.m. The family was instructed to return on Thursday, July 16, to identify and receive his body.

Khoshkar had been transferred to Suite 35, the prison’s solitary confinement unit, on July 11 ahead of his execution. His family was allowed a final visit on July 12.

He had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges including “moharebeh” (waging war against God) through carrying and using a weapon, “assembly and collusion against national security,” and the killing of a member of the Basij paramilitary force. Khoshkar’s lawyer had previously challenged the verdict, arguing that the case contained significant inconsistencies and that the evidence was insufficient to support the charges. The lawyer also said the location of the alleged incident lacked surveillance footage or other corroborating judicial evidence.

Khoshkar was arrested on November 11, 2022, during protests in Tehran’s Fallah neighborhood and remained in custody until his execution.