Who is Leila Abolhasani? The mother sentenced to death after Iran’s January protests

Leila Abolhasani, a 43-year-old woman from Shahin Shahr, a city located north of Isfahan in central Iran, has been sentenced to death by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. Her case emerged following the nationwide protests that erupted in Iran in early January 2026. Abolhasani, who works in nail and beauty services and is the mother of two teenagers, was arrested on January 8 while in the vicinity of a burning supermarket. She was accused of participating in the act of setting the store ablaze. According to a relative who spoke to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Abolhasani was simply documenting the incident with her phone. The family maintains that she had no involvement in starting the fire, which was already underway. However, the authorities claimed otherwise, leading to her arrest. The exact circumstances of her detention and the nature of the charges against her remain unclear. Neither the court's judgment nor the evidence used in the case has been publicly disclosed. Additionally, details such as any video footage, witness statements, or forensic findings that might support or refute the allegations have not been made available. Abolhasani was taken into custody and held at Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. Her case eventually came before Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, where Judge Vahid Hemmatnejad presided. During the proceedings, she was charged with "moharebeh," a term in Iran's legal system meaning "enmity against God." This offense is among the most severe under the Islamic Republic's laws. According to an Iranian human rights organization, the court found her guilty of moharebeh due to her alleged involvement in arson and destruction of public property. Furthermore, the organization noted that Abolhasani was denied the right to choose her own legal counsel during the initial stages of the investigation, as per restrictions outlined in Note to Article 48 of Iran's Code of Criminal Procedure. Judge Hemmatnejad imposed the death penalty, marking another instance of the government's ongoing efforts to suppress dissent following the January protests. Human rights organizations have reported that between 500 and 1,000 individuals have been executed in Iran this year, including several protesters. The legal basis for Abolhasani's conviction raises further concerns. Article 279 of the Islamic Penal Code outlines moharebeh as actions involving threats to people's lives, property, or dignity, or acts that cause public alarm. Article 282 specifies potential penalties, including execution by hanging. There is no public account indicating that Abolhasani was armed or engaged in any violent behavior. Judge Hemmatnejad has gained notoriety in recent months for his role in adjudicating politically sensitive cases. Prior to handling national security matters, he oversaw drug-related trials and issued death sentences to multiple defendants. His association with harsh rulings against protesters and political detainees underscores the broader context of the judiciary's alignment with the regime's stance on dissent. Abolhasani's case highlights the challenges faced by individuals caught up in the aftermath of large-scale protests. While her family insists she merely recorded the scene, the state has pursued a strict legal interpretation of her actions. As her appeal moves forward through the judicial system, the outcome will likely depend on whether new information emerges or if the court revisits its previous determination. Meanwhile, the broader implications of her sentencing reflect the continued tensions within Iran's legal framework and the risks faced by citizens engaging in public demonstrations.