According to Amnesty International, Iranian authorities have intensified the use of the death penalty against protesters following demonstrations over inflation and currency devaluation. At least 26 individuals have been executed during the first half of the year, a figure human rights monitors warn is likely much higher due to secret trials and a lack of transparency in the country’s judicial system.
Public Executions Send a Chilling Signal in Isfahan
Iranian authorities carried out public executions for individuals connected to winter protests, hanging two men from a crane on a public square in Isfahan. Amirhossein Safari, 28, and Abdolfazl Sepahi, 23, were executed on Alikhani-plassen on July 28, according to data confirmed by academics and verified video footage.
Sindre Stranden Tollefsen, kommunikasjonssjef i Amnesty, states that the regime aims to criminalize legitimate freedom of expression and crush any form of domestic opposition.
Verification from a video posted to X and reviewed by The New York Times shows large crowds gathered on the plaza during the hangings, with morning prayers echoing from loudspeakers in the background. State-linked media outlet Mizan reported that the men were convicted alongside ten others for attacking security forces and possessing weapons.
Dubious Legal Proceedings and Torture Allegations
Legal proceedings leading to these capital punishments lack basic due process, according to human rights organizations monitoring the trials. Safari and Sepahi belonged to a group of 12 men condemned in a single mass trial, United Nations officials report. Out of that group, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, 23, and Erfan Esfandir, 18, have also been executed, while eight others face imminent danger of execution.
State prosecutors charged the defendants with “corruption on earth,” waging war against God, and joining anti-security insurgent groups. Good explains that these broad religious charges allow the judiciary to frame any political dissent as a violation of divine will. Amnesty emphasizes that convictions frequently rely on forced confessions obtained through torture, without access to independent legal counsel.
Did you know? Amnesty International documented that Iran’s post-protest executions increasingly rely on newly enacted espionage laws, permitting capital punishment for peaceful communication with foreign media and human rights groups.
Espionage Charges Link Protesters to Foreign Powers
Following military strikes by the United States and Israel earlier in the year, the Iranian judiciary added sweeping espionage allegations to many protest-related indictments. Tollefsen states that authorities routinely accuse jailed activists of collaborating with hostile foreign governments, specifically targeting Israel.
These prosecutions leverage anti-espionage legislation established after the 12-day conflict. Under this framework, officials can seek the death penalty for non-violent actions, including talking to international reporters. Human rights monitors point to the executions of Omid Bezhad and Pouria Safvat, who were put to death under accusations of transmitting military coordinates to foreign intelligence agencies.
With at least 60 additional prisoners facing imminent execution, international monitors continue documenting abuses to pressure the regime. Tollefsen stresses that heightened global awareness remains one of the few mechanisms capable of halting further state-sanctioned killings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are protesters facing the death penalty in Iran?
According to Amnesty International, the Iranian government uses capital punishment to suppress dissent following widespread economic protests. Defendants are typically accused of security offenses, attacking law enforcement, or vague charges like “corruption on earth.”
What role do foreign relations play in these executions?
Human rights monitors report that since military strikes involving the US and Israel, Iranian courts frequently attach fabricated espionage charges to protest cases, alleging that activists act as foreign agents or traitors.
Are the trials of condemned protesters open to the public?
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