In Iran, 19-year-old twin sisters Tareneh and Romina Rahimi have received severe sentences for their involvement in protests that swept the country. Tareneh has been sentenced to death by hanging, and Romina has been given a 25-year prison sentence.

Their cousin, Masoud Nourmohammadi, who lives in Utah, described the sisters as typical young women. Tareneh enjoyed horses and worked at an equestrian center, while Romina, who had a job in a shoe shop, was interested in fashion. The twins were arrested a week after participating in protests on January 8. They reportedly endured torture and threats of rape, with Tareneh sustaining broken fingers and a broken knee.

Tareneh, who turned 20 in prison, is among at least ten individuals sentenced to death in Isfahan for protesting. She is the only woman in this group. "They handpick the most beautiful, handsome, gorgeous kids – the brightest and the bravest – because they want to create an environment of fear in Iran," Nourmohammadi stated, adding that the regime's message is "If you rise up, this is what’s going to happen to you."

Nourmohammadi recounted that on the day of the protests, Tareneh had gone to assist Romina at her shoe shop in Isfahan's Shohada Square. Following mass demonstrations against the Islamic Republic, which had begun a week earlier and were amplified by online calls to protest, thousands gathered in central squares across Iran. In Isfahan, the Rahimi twins joined protesters chanting slogans against the government.

The crackdown was described as swift and brutal, with security forces reportedly using firearms and batons. Estimates of deaths during the protests, which occurred over two nights, ranged from 12,000 to 20,000 according to UK government figures.

A week after the protests, masked members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested Tareneh from a friend's house and subsequently seized Romina from their mother's apartment. Nourmohammadi believes the Iranian government utilizes extensive surveillance, including AI and street cameras, to track citizens.

Tareneh was charged with "moharebeh" (waging war against God), while Romina was accused of "aiding and abetting moharebeh." Seven months after their arrest, Nourmohammadi learned of Tareneh's death sentence through a voicemail.

Nourmohammadi described the twins' mother's distress and shared personal memories of the sisters, including Tareneh's fascination with horses. He also noted that Taraneh's lawyers have 18 days to appeal her sentence, but expressed skepticism about the adherence to legal processes by the Islamic Republic.

He fears for Tareneh's life, as executions often occur at dawn. "They are in hell," he said.

Nourmohammadi feels a sense of powerlessness but is determined to be a voice for his cousins, despite receiving threats against his family in Iran. He emphasizes the need for the world to be aware of the situation in Iran.

Human rights groups report a surge in executions within Iran this year. Between January and July, at least 56 people were executed on political or national security charges. In Isfahan, two young men were publicly hanged in July, and others face similar fates. Roya Boroumand, executive director of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, noted the speed of sentencing, the return of public executions, and the use of broad charges like espionage to suppress dissent.

Nourmohammadi believes the IRGC exploited the sisters' bond, with Tareneh allegedly signing a confession only after guards threatened to rape Romina in her presence. Tareneh's already injured knee was reportedly re-injured in prison, and her fingers were broken. When she sought medical attention, she was allegedly told, "You're going to die anyway... What does it matter if you're a cripple or not."

Romina is described as defiant and independent, representative of Iran's Gen Z, exposed to social media and Western influences. Tareneh, conversely, was gentle and empathetic. Their cousin also shared that when Romina was 15, she asked for a Nike jacket, and at 17, she got a tattoo of a map of Iran, symbolizing pride in her heritage.

Nourmohammadi expressed confusion over their arrest, stating they were not politically active and were among the last family members he expected to participate in protests. He noted that many arrested in connection with the Isfahan protests were shopkeepers or employees, not prominent activists.

According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, the legal proceedings in their case violated fair trial standards, with closed sessions and limited access for defense lawyers. Amnesty International has called for international action to halt further executions in Iran.

Tareneh's dream was to open an equestrian center, while Romina aimed to design sustainable trainers. Nourmohammadi believes they were caught up in the general mood of protest and became a "brutal example" to deter others. He expressed regret that he couldn't prevent them from going out that night, stating, "They were just two young girls chanting in the streets."