Iran's Islamic Republic executed Erfan Mirzaei, a 21-year-old rapper and singer from the Isfahan region, who had been detained during the country's recent wave of protests. According to reports from media outlets and human rights organizations, Mirzaei was put to death on Sunday, September 6, at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
He was arrested following demonstrations that took place in January 2026. Security forces claimed they found a video on his phone documenting clashes between protesters and members of the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer militia under Iran's Revolutionary Guards. He was subsequently charged with "moharebeh", literally "waging war against God", a charge Iran's judicial system applies in certain cases against regime opponents.
His family attempted to prevent the execution and worked for months to save his life, according to reports. Relatives said they faced intense pressure not to publicize information about his arrest or sentence, and received no advance notice of the execution date.
Mirzaei's death comes amid a significant escalation in Iran's use of capital punishment. Since the outbreak of protest waves, authorities have employed security-related charges and vague provisions such as "waging war against God" and "corruption on earth" to prosecute demonstrators and regime critics. Human rights organizations have warned throughout this period of unfair trials, confessions allegedly extracted under torture, and inadequate access to legal defense.
