The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, has expressed alarm at the increase in executions in Iran, stating that capital punishment is being used "to instil fear among the population and suppress dissent." Since 19 March, at least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges, including 27 linked to January's nationwide anti-government protests.

More than 100 others face the risk of execution on similar charges, while executions for drug-related offenses continue at an alarming rate. Iran is considered the world's second-most prolific executioner after China. According to Amnesty International, Iran executed at least 2,159 people last year, the highest figure since 1981, including 45 executions of suspected dissidents on national security grounds.

Activists have warned that Iranian authorities might increase executions against opponents following the January protests, during which thousands of demonstrators were killed and tens of thousands detained, and after the US-Israeli war with Iran on 28 February.

Türk also highlighted the "deeply troubling" lack of fair trial and due process guarantees, noting that confessions are allegedly obtained under torture and other ill-treatment. Twelve defendants were reportedly sentenced to death following a single three-hour closed-door hearing.

Among recent cases, 19-year-old Arvin Kheirkhahan was executed last week after being convicted of "enmity against God" for his alleged role in the January unrest, according to Iran's Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Additionally, Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat were accused of sending sensitive military and security information to Israel's Mossad during the current war and a 12-day conflict in June 2025, as reported by the judiciary's Mizan news agency.

Two other defendants, Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, were executed on 19 July in connection with the killing of four law enforcement officers on 8 January. UN human rights experts confirmed that 12 individuals were sentenced to death in these cases.

The UN human rights chief emphasized that "such punishment has no place in our world."

Sources