Iran Executes Protesters Under Broad Security Charges

Iranian authorities have announced the execution of at least 29 individuals arrested during the nationwide protests that began in late 2025 and continued into early 2026, according to a joint report by Human Rights Watch and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center. The findings, detailed in a new analysis released recently, indicate that these executions took place between mid-March and the end of August, marking a significant intensification of the state’s response to civil unrest.

The report highlights that several of those executed were minors or young adults, with ages ranging from 18 to 21. Notably, five of the executions were carried out in public, a practice the organizations describe as a deliberate strategy to instill fear within the broader population. The speed of the judicial process has been a central point of concern, with some defendants moving from arrest to execution in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Broad Charges Drive Rapid Sentences

In sixteen of the documented cases, authorities did not allege that the defendants had killed anyone. Instead, the charges cited included actions such as setting fire to vehicles, possessing Molotov cocktails, or damaging government property. According to the report, Iranian courts have relied heavily on broadly defined capital offenses, including “waging war against God” and “corruption on earth.” These legal frameworks allow for death sentences without the need to establish that the defendants were responsible for intentional homicides.

The 2025 Espionage Law has emerged as a significant tool in these prosecutions. At least eight protesters were convicted under this statute, which expands the definition of cooperation with hostile states. The law also permits expedited proceedings and imposes severe penalties for sharing information with foreign media or social media platforms, activities deemed contrary to national security by authorities.

Allegations of Coercion and Denial of Counsel

Human Rights Watch and the Boroumand Center documented widespread allegations of torture and forced confessions among detainees. The report states that defendants were denied access to independent lawyers of their choosing and that courts relied on statements allegedly extracted through beatings, electric shocks, and threats of sexual violence. In several instances, defendants retracted their confessions in court, claiming they were coerced, but authorities failed to investigate these allegations.

State media broadcasts have featured televised confessions prior to the conclusion of trials. In one recorded incident, an interrogator told an 18-year-old detainee that he was accused of “waging war against God.” When informed that this charge meant execution, the teenager pleaded for his life. The organizations note that such public displays serve to reinforce the narrative of state security over individual rights.

Public Executions Signal Deterrent Intent

The return of public executions in protest-related cases is viewed by rights organizations as a clear attempt to deter further dissent. The report places particular emphasis on the timing and manner of these punishments, suggesting that the visibility of the executions is intended to serve as a warning to the wider population. This approach contrasts with previous periods where such public displays were less common.

The overall crackdown has resulted in the detention of tens of thousands and the death of thousands, according to the same report. As the legal system continues to apply these expansive security charges, the international community is watching closely for any signs of procedural reform or diplomatic engagement. The next steps will likely depend on whether these judicial practices remain consistent or if external pressure leads to a review of the legal standards applied to political detainees.