Two 20-year-old twin sisters among 16 accused in high-profile Isfahan protest case amid torture and death-penalty concerns

Sixteen people have been charged in connection with protests that took place in the central Iranian city of Isfahan in January, authorities say. The demonstrations — which are linked to unrest in which a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed — have since prompted a series of high-profile prosecutions that rights advocates say raise serious concerns about due process and the use of torture.

Among those formally accused are twin sisters Tarane and Romina Rahimi, both 20 years old. Their inclusion among the 16 defendants has drawn focused attention from human rights campaigners and Iran observers because of the sisters' youth and because sources inside Iran have told Radio Farda that interrogators subjected several suspects to coercive tactics to produce confessions.

Radio Farda, citing sources on the ground in Iran, reported allegations that security forces used torture in order to extract confessions from accused protesters. Those reports say that the coerced statements are being used as evidence in the prosecutions. Campaigners and civil liberties advocates warn that evidence obtained under duress undermines the legitimacy of any criminal proceeding and breaches international legal standards on fair trial and the prohibition of torture.

Iranian authorities have not publicly substantiated the allegations of torture detailed by the sources, and official statements about the case have been limited. State media reported the death of an IRGC commander during the Isfahan unrest, and security forces have characterized the incidents as violent acts requiring a strong judicial response. The precise charges brought against each of the 16 accused have not been fully disclosed in available open-source reporting.

Rights defenders are particularly alarmed by reports that some defendants could face the death penalty. Under Iranian law, certain offenses tied to violence and national security can carry capital punishment, and campaigners point to a pattern in which politically charged prosecutions have led to execution sentences in recent years. The prospect of capital sentencing in a case where allegations of torture and coerced confessions have been made has prompted calls from advocates for independent scrutiny of the investigation and for access to legal counsel for the accused.

The case also underscores broader concerns about the treatment of detainees in Iran, especially those arrested in the context of protests. Human rights organizations and activists have repeatedly documented practices they say include prolonged detention without charge, restricted access to lawyers, and reliance on forced confessions — practices that critics say are inconsistent with Iran's obligations under international human rights law.

Family members and lawyers of the accused have limited ability to speak publicly about the proceedings, and independent observers have limited on-the-ground access to monitor the fairness of the trials. That opacity has amplified worries among rights groups and diaspora monitors that due process safeguards are not being respected.

The unfolding prosecutions in Isfahan come at a time of heightened sensitivity around protests in Iran and persistent international scrutiny of the country's human rights record. Observers say the outcome of high-profile cases such as this will be watched closely by rights monitors, foreign governments, and legal advocates concerned about accountability for abuses, the protection of civil liberties, and the prevention of capital punishment in circumstances where the integrity of the evidence is disputed.

Radio Farda and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported the original information, citing sources within Iran. The allegations they conveyed — particularly the claims of torture and the potential application of the death penalty — underscore the broader human rights stakes in how Iranian authorities handle cases tied to public dissent and state security.