Amnesty International on Oct. 13 stated [5] that Iran’s execution of five individuals in one week was based on unfair trials and called on the international community to respond. Between Sept. 30 and Oct. 5, Iran executed five men—Majid Nikandish, Ali Hemmati Sistanian, Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi, Alireza Raisi and Alireza Sepahi—convicted in connection with anti-government protests, prompting renewed scrutiny [8] from human rights organizations over the use of capital punishment in protest-related cases.
Iranian authorities brought charges including armed rebellion (baghi), waging war against God (moharebeh), and corruption on earth (efsad-e fel arz). The cases involved allegations of violence, property damage, arson, and threats to national security.
The demonstrations [9] began on Dec. 28, 2025, when merchants in Tehran closed their shops in response to rising inflation, the declining value of the Iranian rial, and worsening economic conditions. The protests subsequently spread across the country, with demands extending from economic concerns to uproars over political grievances. By Jan. 9, demonstrations had peaked in several cities. The government attributed the unrest in part to foreign interference and acts of violence.
Iran has faced international scrutiny over its use of capital punishment for years. Amnesty reported [6] that the country accounted for 64% of recorded executions worldwide in 2024, based on its annual global review.
Other recent cases have drawn attention to similar questions. Mozhdeh Hashemi Bazargani [10], a 27-year-old Iranian Red Crescent worker, reportedly faces execution after Iran's Supreme Court upheld her death sentence. Her case has prompted discussion of fair-trial protections and the legal safeguards applicable to medical personnel.
Additionally, according to Human Rights Watch, Iranian authorities executed [8] at least 59 men between March 18 and the end of August 2026 on politically motivated or national security charges. At least 29 had been arrested in connection with the protests that began in December 2025 and continued into January 2026.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Courts handle cases involving national security and offences against the state. They can impose [11] the death penalty for charges such as baghi, moharebeh and efsad-e fel arz. Defendants can appeal death sentences to Iran’s Supreme Court of Cassation. The court can uphold a sentence or order a retrial if it identifies legal irregularities.
Iranian law also recognizes qisas [12], a form of retribution used primarily in intentional murder cases. Under this system, the victim’s family can forgive the offender or accept diya [13], a form of financial compensation, instead of pursuing execution. This option generally does not apply to protest-related cases. In these cases, the state pursues the charges and determines the punishment through the criminal justice system.
Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [14] (ICCPR). Article 6 therein protects the right to life and limits the use of the death penalty in countries that retain it to the "most serious crimes." The UN Human Rights Committee has interpreted this category narrowly, limiting it to crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing.
From JURIST [15], Oct. 15. Used with permission.
