{"id":35473,"date":"2026-08-10T00:45:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T19:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35473"},"modified":"2026-08-10T00:45:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T19:45:41","slug":"iran-executes-protesters-in-public-as-regime-expands-postwar-repression-human-rights-groups-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35473","title":{"rendered":"Iran executes protesters in public as regime expands postwar repression, human rights groups say"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">LONDON &#8212; Public executions returned to the streets of Iran last week as the regime clamps down on public dissent following months of war with the U.S. and mass protests in January, according to recent statements from human rights groups and family members of those executed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Cranes were used to set up hanging ropes in Isfahan, a central city in the country, to execute three young protesters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Amirhossein Safari, 27, Abolfazl Sepahi, 23, and Alirez Sepahi, 25, were brought by van to Isfahan\u2019s Alikhani Street to be hanged for alleged crimes related to protests against the regime in January, according to human rights groups.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The Islamic Republic regime in Iran has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges since March 19, including 27 individuals in cases linked to nationwide protests in January, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T\u00fcrk said in a <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2026\/08\/1168081\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\">statement<\/a> Wednesday. More than 100 others are at risk of execution on similar charges, T\u00fcrk warned.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/0d6d19cb-c26e-445f-bf3e-9193cedbb3af\/iran-embed1_1786257502409_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/0d6d19cb-c26e-445f-bf3e-9193cedbb3af\/iran-embed1_1786257502409_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/0d6d19cb-c26e-445f-bf3e-9193cedbb3af\/iran-embed1_1786257502409_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/0d6d19cb-c26e-445f-bf3e-9193cedbb3af\/iran-embed1_1786257502409_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/0d6d19cb-c26e-445f-bf3e-9193cedbb3af\/iran-embed1_1786257502409_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">A delivery person rides a motorcycle near an image of Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Valiasr Square in central Tehran on Aug. 8, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Atta Kenare\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Iranian lawyers inside the country told ABC News that the real number of people at risk of execution on charges related to the protests against the regime could be higher.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In the Alikhani case, 12 young men were sentenced to death and several others were sentenced to five to 10 years in prison, according to Iranian judiciary and human rights sources. Of the 12 men sentenced to death, four have been hanged and eight others currently await execution.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"vPZug ZqdKL xcLAU bunQU uhXXI PjNjV lNbol LBPRq \"><strong class=\"vtkaO \">Protest at the scene of Isfahan\u2019s public execution<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, when news circulated about the regime\u2019s planned execution of the three young men, scaffolding was installed at Isfahan\u2019s Alikhani Square, with a crane brought to the scene as security forces gathered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">It raised fears that the executions could be carried out in public. Soon, a group of citizens gathered at the site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Eyewitnesses told ABC News that the van transporting the defendants arrived at the location, escorted by a truck with a machine gun on its back to scare off protesters at the execution scene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Videos shared online showed protesters chanting slogans, clashes breaking out and people fleeing as security forces moved in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The defendants arrived at dawn, just before the morning prayer call, the time when the regime&#8217;s laws mandate execution sentences be carried out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Many Iranians reacted to the execution on social media by sharing posts about how the morning prayer call scares them, as it has now turned into a reminder of a \u201cdeath song\u201d to them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">While Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi were hanged Thursday, Alireza Sepahi did not reach the gallows and was taken to a hospital after he collapsed from what human rights groups described as heatstroke or a heart attack.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"vPZug ZqdKL xcLAU bunQU uhXXI PjNjV lNbol LBPRq \"><strong class=\"vtkaO \">Torture and forced confession on prisoners and pressure on families<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Several relatives and friends of the defendants in the Alikhani case told ABC News that the regime has forced their children to confess. They said the defendants have been subjected to different forms of severe physical and psychological torture for days and were not allowed to have a lawyer of their choosing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The families asked not to be named for their own security and to prevent additional pressure on their young men on death row. In some cases, the court refused to accept evidence that the defendants had not been at the scene of the alleged crime at the time, the families added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/923c08ee-a1b2-4fca-8831-41ff69409d10\/tehran-main_1786257511191_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/923c08ee-a1b2-4fca-8831-41ff69409d10\/tehran-main_1786257511191_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/923c08ee-a1b2-4fca-8831-41ff69409d10\/tehran-main_1786257511191_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/923c08ee-a1b2-4fca-8831-41ff69409d10\/tehran-main_1786257511191_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/923c08ee-a1b2-4fca-8831-41ff69409d10\/tehran-main_1786257511191_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">A woman walks past a mural depicting Iran&#8217;s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei at Valiasr Square in central Tehran on Aug. 8, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Atta Kenare\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;They have tortured them for days to confess to murder,&#8221; a family member said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Even the pro bono lawyer for the defendant, who was assigned by the judiciary, did not have access to the case during the trial and was still refused access after the death sentence was issued, according to the family member. They also said the lawyer and defendant\u2019s parents were informed about the death sentence only after it was issued by the court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The U.N.&#8217;s T\u00fcrk condemned the death sentences in this case in his statement last week and expressed concern over the judicial process and reports of what the statement described as confessions that have &#8220;allegedly been obtained under torture and other ill-treatment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThe death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and irreconcilable with human dignity,\u201d T\u00fcrk said. \u201cSuch punishment has no place in our world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Amnesty International condemned the recent hangings in Iran in a <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2026\/07\/iran-end-escalating-campaign-of-arbitrary-executions-and-death-sentences-against-protesters\/\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\">statement<\/a> Tuesday following the hanging of Safari and Sepahi, warning that among those prisoners on death row are three whom the organization said were arrested as children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThe muted<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->response<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->from<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->the international community<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->emboldens the<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->Iranian authorities to continue their deadly rampage.<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->UN member states must<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->take<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->urgent coordinated diplomatic action to press the Iranian authorities to halt<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->further<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->executions,&#8221; the Amnesty International statement said, in part.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Family members and friends of those on death row have repeatedly been warned by security and intelligence forces not to talk to the media and have been warned not to contact families of other defendants in the same case or else they would face consequences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;The whole family&#8217;s life is on fire. It is not just the life of one single person at risk. We are all at risk,&#8221; a family member&#8217;s relative told ABC News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">Several sources close to imprisoned protesters told ABC News that the regime has threatened them, saying that that if they talk to the media, their other children also would not be safe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LONDON &#8212; Public executions returned to the streets of Iran last week as the regime clamps down on public dissent following months of war with the U.S. and mass protests in January, according to recent statements from human rights groups and family members of those executed. Cranes were used to set up hanging ropes in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/923c08ee-a1b2-4fca-8831-41ff69409d10\/tehran-main_1786257511191_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}