Amnesty International denounces escalation of executions in Iran, 26 this year

Amnesty International has denounced a "new escalation" of the death penalty in Iran, following the public execution of two protesters in Isfahan. This brings the total number of executions this year to at least 26, with over 60 additional individuals reportedly at imminent risk of execution.

The human rights organization warned that among those sentenced to death after the protests that began in January 2026 are at least three individuals who were minors at the time of the alleged offenses. Amnesty International stated that their execution would be a drastic violation of international law.

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Amnesty International denounced this Tuesday a "new escalation" of the death penalty in Iran after the public execution of two protesters in Isfahan (center), which raises to at least 26 the number executed this year for protesting against the regime, while at least 60 more people are at imminent risk of execution.

The latest confirmed executions were of Amir Hossein Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi. Their public executions followed a collective trial marred by irregularities following the death of four police officers in Isfahan. Both had been detained on January 8 and convicted based on "confessions" obtained in custody. This same practice was used on July 19 to execute Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi in the same case.

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The Iranian regime has intensified internal repression, using the "war conditions" derived from the military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran initiated last February 28 as a pretext.

Amnesty International asserts that the Iranian regime has intensified its internal repression, using the "war conditions" resulting from military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, which began on February 28, as a pretext. Since then, authorities have arbitrarily executed at least 52 people for political reasons or in connection with the protests.

The organization holds the application of ambiguous penal figures such as "enmity against God" (moharebeh) and "corruption on earth" (efsad-e fel-arz) responsible for this surge. Additionally, a new Espionage Law, enacted after the 12-day conflict in June 2026, criminalizes peaceful acts like protesting or sharing information about human rights violations with international media, classifying them as capital offenses. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence also added over 400 individuals and foreign entities, including NGOs and independent media, to a list of "hostile" organizations on July 14, potentially exposing any Iranian citizen communicating with them to the death penalty.

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The regime has intensified internal repression, using the "war conditions" derived from the military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran initiated last February 28 as a pretext.