Public executions resumed in Iran last week as authorities executed three young protesters in Isfahan, according to human rights groups and family members. The hangings occurred in Alikhani Square, where security forces erected scaffolding and cranes in the early hours of July 28 before bringing the condemned men to the site by van.
Amirhossein Safari, 27, Abolfazl Sepahi, 23, and Alirez Sepahi, 25, were hanged for alleged crimes related to protests against the regime in January, human rights organizations reported. The executions followed a pattern of public displays intended to deter further dissent, witnesses and rights groups stated.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk confirmed in a statement on July 29 that Iran has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges since March 19, including 27 individuals linked to the January protests. Türk warned that more than 100 others remain at risk of execution on similar charges. Iranian lawyers inside the country told ABC News that the actual number of those at risk could be higher.
In the Alikhani case, 12 young men were sentenced to death, with four already executed and eight others awaiting execution, according to judicial and human rights sources. Several additional defendants received sentences ranging from five to 10 years in prison. The executions were carried out despite international condemnation and calls for restraint.
Background: Escalation in Crackdown
The hangings follow months of unrest in Iran, including nationwide protests in January that the government attributed to foreign interference and domestic instability. The regime has framed the crackdown as necessary to maintain national security, while human rights organizations describe the proceedings as politically motivated and lacking due process.
The use of public executions marks a return to tactics employed during previous periods of repression, according to rights groups. The executions were preceded by reports of torture and coerced confessions, with family members of the condemned alleging that detainees were subjected to physical abuse to extract admissions of guilt.
International Response and Ongoing Concerns
The UN’s human rights office reiterated calls for Iran to halt executions and ensure fair trials for all detainees. Türk’s statement emphasized that the executions violate international law and undermine prospects for reconciliation. Human rights organizations have documented a surge in executions since the start of the year, with at least 854 people put to death in 2024 alone, according to Amnesty International.
Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on the specific cases or the broader crackdown. The executions occurred amid heightened tensions with Western governments, which have criticized Iran’s human rights record and called for accountability.
Legal and Human Rights Context
Legal experts inside Iran, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the judicial process in such cases often lacks transparency. Defendants are frequently denied access to legal representation and face trial in revolutionary courts, which operate under procedures that fall short of international standards. The executions in Isfahan were carried out without prior public notice, a tactic rights groups say is designed to prevent organized opposition.
Family members of the executed men described the proceedings as rushed and opaque. One relative, who requested anonymity, stated that the men were denied proper legal defense and that their confessions were extracted under duress. The Iranian judiciary has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
What’s Next
Human rights organizations continue to monitor the situation, with at least eight individuals still facing imminent execution in connection with the January protests. Activists have called for urgent international intervention to pressure Iran to halt further hangings and release remaining detainees. The executions in Isfahan underscore the regime’s determination to suppress dissent through coercive measures, despite mounting global criticism.