Iran Executes Two Men Convicted in Anti-Government Protests

Iran's judiciary announced Tuesday that two men, Abolfazl Sepahi and Amir-Hossein Safari, have been executed by hanging. They were convicted for their involvement in the widespread anti-government protests that swept the country in December and January.

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The death sentences of Abolfazl Sepahi and Amir-Hossein Safari were executed this morning.

According to the Mizan Online news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, the men faced charges including "moharebeh (war against God) for brandishing weapons and spreading fear and terror" and "corruption on earth for committing acts that severely disrupted public order and security."

The executions reportedly took place in Malekshahr, in the central province of Isfahan, in the presence of witnesses, as reported by the Mehr news agency. These executions add to a growing number of death sentences carried out in Iran since the start of a war triggered by a US-Israeli offensive on February 28.

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war against God (moharebeh) for brandishing weapons and spreading fear and terror

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have strongly condemned the executions. They highlight Iran's position as a country with one of the highest rates of capital punishment globally, second only to China. Reports from NGOs like Iran Human Rights and Ensemble contre la peine de mort indicate that at least 1,639 people were executed in Iran in 2025, a record high since 1989. The protests, initially sparked by rising living costs, evolved into significant anti-government demonstrations, with authorities acknowledging over 3,000 deaths and blaming "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the US and Israel, while foreign-based NGOs report thousands of fatalities due to the crackdown.

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corruption on earth for committing acts that severely disrupted public order and security