Iran Executes Two Protesters Amid Nationwide Unrest
Iran executed two young men in a public hanging, provoking outrage among onlookers who chanted against the action. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd, as reported by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled Iranian opposition group.
Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi were executed in Isfahan’s Shahid Alikhani Square. Authorities accused them of crimes linked to protests on January 8, according to the NCRI and Iranian state media. The executions were confirmed by Iran’s semi-official news agency, Mehr, which stated they occurred in the presence of a crowd.
The NCRI indicated that security agents were stationed on rooftops and surrounding streets to prevent unrest. Maryam Rajavi, NCRI President-elect, highlighted this in a statement shared on social media.
These executions are part of a larger crackdown on protests that emerged in late December and intensified in January. Human rights organizations have criticized Iran for denying defendants fair trials and relying on confessions obtained under duress.
The Iranian judiciary accused Badjani and Hosseinabadi of murdering four security force members during the January demonstrations. Additional charges included “enmity against God,” “corruption on Earth,” destruction, arson, and possession of firearms.
The NCRI claimed that the men were not allowed to choose their lawyers, and even their court-appointed attorneys were denied access to case files. The judiciary countered by stating that the defendants had legal representation, appealed their convictions, and that the trial involved police reports and other evidence.
The pair were among several protesters sentenced to death in what is known as the Alikhani Square case. Prior executions include Erfan Esfandiari and Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, executed in July, with more protesters facing imminent execution.
The U.N. has criticized the proceedings as unfair, noting that a single closed-door hearing sentenced the defendants without clarity on individual responsibilities.
Human Rights Watch reported that at least 50 people have been executed over the past four months on charges related to national security.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam from Iran Human Rights stated that Iran’s use of public hangings seeks to instill fear and suppress future protests, calling for international condemnation of such practices.
The protests, beginning in December amid economic issues, grew into a significant anti-government movement in Iran’s history.