Mum, 43, is facing execution by hanging in Iran after snapping photos of store’s fire during anti-regime protests

A MUM has been sentenced to death after taking a photo of a shop on fire in Iran’s January protests against its tyrannical dictator. Leila Abolhasani, 43, is set to be executed for filming a shop on fire during unrest at the start of the year. Leila Abolhasani, 43, is set to be executed after filming a fire during anti-regime protests in Iran Credit: Newsnationnow The mum-of-two was arrested while filming a shop on fire during unrest at the start of the year Credit: Getty Tens of thousands of civilians were killed in brutal crackdowns by the IRGC Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Leila was sentenced to death on the charge of ‘Moharebeh’, meaning ‘enmity against God’ Credit: Getty The mum of two teens has reportedly been detained in Dowlatabad Prison, Isfahan since January 8. Leila was sentenced to death on the charge of “Moharebeh”, meaning “enmity against God”, IranWire reported. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Her family say her only crime was filming and taking photos of a shop that had been set alight during demonstrations. Iran‘s judiciary claimed she had set the store alight herself, leading to her death sentence. Leila denied the charges. She was arrested while simply documenting the Ofogh Koorosh shop blaze, according to relatives. An Iranian refugee told NewsNation: “Her work could have been very effective in showing the world how brutal and savage the regime is, and they do not want the world to see the truth. “That is why they are trying to execute her. They want her case to serve as a lesson to anyone who tries to speak the truth about the regime. Most read in The Sun Iran’s regime has executed more than 1,600 people in the last year, mainly by hanging Credit: AFP Huge protests swept the nation in January Credit: AFP “They want to create fear among the people so that anyone who might consider revealing the truth will be too afraid to do so, especially after seeing what has happened to her and her two children. “They want people to remain silent and to keep the truth hidden forever.” No details of any evidence against her were made public. Her case has been appealed and will be reviewed by Iran’s supreme court. Tens of thousands of people were killed by Iran’s bloodthirsty IRGC as they cracked down on anti-regime protests in January. In April, Erfan Kiani was hanged by Iranian authorities after taking part in the January protests. He was convicted of crimes including waging war against God, accused of wielding a machete, inciting violence and destroying public property. The Iranian judiciary claimed Erfan had a leadership role in the protests and had thrown stones at security forces. Erfan was described by Iranian state media as a “hired thug of Mossad,” Israel’s spy agency. The National Council of Resistance in Iran, however, described him as a “brave rebellious youth”. Iran has executed more than 1,600 people in the last year, marking the state’s highest kill-count since the post-Iraq war massacre of 1989. In 2025, around four people were killed every day. Most were executed after being accused of drug crimes or murder. But some dissidents were killed on charges such as “waging war against God” and “corruption on Earth,” according to a report by two human rights watch charities. The brutal executions, mostly hangings, were carried out “after grossly unfair trials and without due process”, according to the report. Comment now