Public hangings and protest executions

Named cases, 2020-2026

Executions carried out in public

Public hanging is used sparingly and deliberately. On 12 December 2022, Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, was hanged from a construction crane in Mashhad, 23 days after his arrest; photographs of his suspended body were distributed by state media. On 28 July 2026, Abdolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amir Hossein Safari Hosseinabadi were hanged at dawn in Alikhani Square, Isfahan — the exact square where four police officers had died during the 8 January protests. Amnesty International described both as executions after grossly unfair trials.

The dawn executions of April 2026

Between 2 and 6 April 2026, at least five men were hanged in Tehran and Karaj in connection with the January uprising: Amirhossein Hatami, an 18-year-old musician; Mohammad Amin Biglari; Ali Fahim; Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani; and Shahin Vahedparast Kalur. Two others, Abolhassan Montazer, a 66-year-old architect, and Vahid Baniamerian, a physics teacher, were executed for alleged PMOI membership. In each case the trial was closed, counsel was appointed by the court, and families learned of the execution after it had happened.

The three capital charges

• Moharebeh — 'waging war against God', Article 279 of the Islamic Penal Code.
• Efsad-e fel-arz — 'corruption on earth', Article 286.
• Baghi — 'armed rebellion', Article 287.

None requires proof that the accused killed anyone. All three have been applied to protesters on the basis of confessions extracted under torture, frequently broadcast on state television before trial. See Glossary for the legal terms and Methodology for how each case here was verified.

Who is executed

Protest executions fall disproportionately on ethnic and religious minorities. Kurdish, Baluch, Arab and Yarsani defendants are heavily over-represented: Reza Rasaei was Yarsani-Kurdish, Farhad Salimi a Sunni Kurdish religious teacher, Habib Farajollah Chaab an Ahvazi Arab activist. Afghan nationals, who have almost no consular protection, appear repeatedly in the 2026 lists. Zahedan Central Prison alone accounted for several hangings in a single week in June 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does Iran still carry out public hangings?

Yes. Majidreza Rahnavard was hanged in public from a crane in Mashhad on 12 December 2022, and on 28 July 2026 Abdolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amir Hossein Safari Hosseinabadi were publicly executed at dawn in Alikhani Square, Isfahan — the square where the protest deaths they were convicted over had occurred.

Who was the first protester executed after the 2022 uprising?

Mohsen Shekari, 23, hanged in Tehran on 8 December 2022 on a charge of moharebeh, 74 days after his arrest.

What charges are used to execute protesters in Iran?

Moharebeh ('waging war against God', Article 279), efsad-e fel-arz ('corruption on earth', Article 286) and baghi ('armed rebellion', Article 287). All three are capital offences and are routinely applied on the basis of confessions obtained under torture.

How quickly are protesters executed after arrest?

In several documented cases, within weeks. Rahnavard was hanged 23 days after his arrest; the April 2026 Tehran executions followed closed Revolutionary Court sessions with no independent counsel and no notice to families.

Are minors executed in Iran?

Iran remains one of the few states that executes people for offences committed as children, in breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has ratified.

How many protest-related executions have there been?

This page lists more than 30 named cases since 2020. The wider execution total is far higher: Iran Human Rights recorded 972 executions in 2024 and more than 1,500 in 2025.