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Urgent Action: Halt executions of Iranian protesters and dissidents

82 days left to demand change

Since 28 February, the Iranian authorities have arbitrarily executed at least 36 individuals in politically motivated cases, including 14 people arrested in connection to the nationwide protests in January 2026.

The US and Israel launched an unlawful military attack against Iran on 28 February 2026. Since then, the Iranian authorities have cracked down on protests and weaponised the death penalty to repress dissent, with senior officials calling for accelerated prosecutions and "harsh" penalties against more than 6,000 people since the start of the war.

The authorities have already executed 36 individuals convicted of politically motivated charges following grossly unfair trials.

And at least 78 more protesters, dissidents and others accused of having links to banned opposition groups are under sentence of death, including 41 people arrested in connection to the January 2026 protests.

At least five of them were children at the time of the alleged offence.

We’re urgently calling on Iran to immediately halt all executions, quash all death sentences and make progress towards abolishing the death penalty for good.

Contact the Iranian ambassador to demand that Iran halts its planned executions and takes steps to abolish the death penalty in line with international law.

Download the full Urgent Action here.

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Target: Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi

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Dear Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi,

Amid rising arbitrary executions of protesters and political dissidents and statements by Iranian officials to accelerate proceedings and impose the “harshest punishments” against those arrested since US-Israeli unlawful attacks on Iran, at least 78 people are under sentence of death for politically-motivated charges and at grave risk of execution. They were convicted following grossly unfair trials, including before Revolutionary Courts, of overly broad and vaguely defined charges such as “enmity against God” (moharebeh), “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz) and “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi). Amongst those under sentenced of death are at least 41 people arrested in connection to the January 2026 protests and seven arrested in connection to the 2022 Woman Life Freedom uprising. Among others at risk are 22 people sentenced to death for real or perceived affiliation with banned opposition groups and seven accused of spying for Israel or other national security-related offences. At least five individuals from the 78 were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offence, in violation of international law which strictly prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by children. The number of those at risk is likely higher due to the climate of fear and the internet shutdown imposed since 28 February 2026, impeding access to information about human rights violations.

Since 28 February, Iranian authorities have arbitrarily executed at least 36 individuals in politically-motivated cases, including 14 people arrested in connection to the January 2026 nationwide protests, as they continue weaponizing the death penalty as a tool of political repression and instil fear.

Amnesty International has repeatedly documented severe violations of fair trial rights, including the airing of forced “confessions” obtained under torture and other ill-treatment, as well as denial of the right to a trial before an independent, competent and impartial tribunal; to adequate defence and access to a lawyer; to presumption of innocence; and to meaningfully challenge the legality of their detention.

I call on you to immediately halt all planned executions, quash all death sentences and establish an official moratorium on all executions with a view to fully abolishing the death penalty. Pending this, take steps to bring national legislation in line with international law and standards, including by removing the death penalty for vaguely worded offences, and repealing mandatory death sentences. I also urge you to allow international monitors, including UN Special Procedures and the International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, access to detention facilities.

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