Alireza Kafayi

Alireza Kafayi

Alireza Kafayi is a 35-year-old “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester and one of the defendants in the case known as “Ekbatan” (name of the Tehran neighbourhood where the protest took place). He was arrested on 4 November 2022 and accused of injuring an IRGC member named Arman Ali Verdi on 26 October 2022, which led to his death two days later. The defendants were subjected to torture and ill-treatment to extract false self-incriminating confessions that were later aired by state media. They were also taken to the scene of the alleged crime with his co-defendants on 18 December 2022 to reenact what took place. Alireza was briefly released on bail before being taken into custody again. He was held in Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr Prison) until its closure in August 2023 when he was transferred to Ghezelhesar Prison. 

 

REVOLUTIONARY COURT CASE: Indicted on charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) which were later changed to efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth). The case has been assigned to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by “Death Judge” Ghasem Salavati. On 20 May 2026, one of the lawyers in the case stated that the sentence has been issued and will be announced to the lawyers in the coming days.

CRIMINAL COURT CASE: Sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for participation in murder by Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court on 13 November 2024. The sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court and ultimately commuted on 20 May 2026. According to state media, Alireza was sentenced to five years imprisonment for “complicity in inflicting non-fatal injuries” and ordered to pay diya (blood money) for the injuries.