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Executions rise sharply in Iran
Iran has executed at least 32 political prisoners since late February, marking a steep increase in state-sanctioned killings, according to the United Nations. The surge follows nationwide protests and regional tensions.
Voices from death row
Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, a 29-year-old Kurdish shopkeeper, recorded a final message from Oromiyeh Central Prison before his execution this month. In a voice note obtained by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, he denied all charges, claiming authorities extracted false confessions through torture.
"You are hearing my voice from Oromiyeh Central Prison, and this may be the last time you hear it. From the first day of my arrest, they forced confessions out of me through torture and threats-confessions that were entirely false. None of the charges against me are true. They know it, and God knows it. I am innocent."
Mehrab Abdollahzadeh
Abdollahzadeh was arrested in 2022 during protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained for improper veiling. He was accused of killing a Basij militia member but maintained his innocence until his death.
Pattern of repression
Amnesty International reports 45 politically motivated executions in 2025, but the UN's Human Rights Office warns the 2026 figure could surpass even last year's record of 2,159 executions-most for drug offenses or murder. This year, charges range from espionage for Israel or the CIA to affiliation with exiled opposition groups.
Nassim Papayianni of Amnesty International described the executions as a tool to crush dissent. "People in Iran wake up to near-daily announcements of hangings at dawn," she said. "The regime weaponizes the death penalty to instill fear and stifle opposition."
Trials and transparency
Human rights groups highlight disturbing trends: trials are expedited, evidence is scarce, and confessions are often coerced. Erfan Shakourzadeh, a 29-year-old aerospace student, was hanged on May 11 after being convicted of spying for Israel and the U.S. In a pre-execution note, he wrote:
"I was arrested on fabricated espionage charges and, after eight and a half months of torture and solitary confinement, forced into a false confession. Do not let another innocent life be taken in silence."
Erfan Shakourzadeh
The Hengaw human rights organization condemned the lack of transparency, stating that dissidents are arbitrarily labeled "Israeli spies" without fair trials. Aywar Shekhi of Hengaw warned, "Many lives are at risk."
State defiance
Iran's judiciary has dismissed international criticism. On April 30, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei rejected concerns over death sentences tied to January's protests, asserting courts would not be influenced by external pressure.
Kaveh Kermanshahi of the Kurdistan Human Rights Network linked the crackdown to the regime's efforts to reassert control amid internal and external crises. "Through intensified repression and executions, the regime stages a display of power," he said. "The message is clear: 'I am still here, and I still control the situation.'"
Families denied closure
Executions often occur without warning. Abdollahzadeh's family received no prior notice, and his body was not returned. Sasan Azadvar, a 21-year-old karate champion from Isfahan, was hanged last month for "waging war against God" after allegedly attacking police during protests. His televised confession showed him admitting to breaking a police car window-a non-lethal offense that, under international law, does not warrant the death penalty.
The UN fears secret executions may be occurring, as not all cases are publicly announced. Iranian authorities have not responded to requests for comment on the surge in executions or allegations of torture.
