As the world marked World Teachers’ Day on 5 October, teachers across Iran entered the new academic year facing a dual crisis: severe economic hardship and continuing pressure on those who peacefully demand better working conditions, professional rights and fundamental freedoms. According to reports published by Iran Human Rights Monitor, the economic situation facing Iranian teachers has deteriorated sharply. The estimated monthly cost of living for an average household has reached around 90 million tomans, while the lowest reported monthly salary for education personnel is approximately 26 million tomans. Even highly experienced teachers with more than 25 years of service, a doctorate and the highest professional ranking reportedly earn around 46 million tomans — only about half the estimated cost of basic household living. The gap has widened as salary increases have failed to keep pace with rising prices. Teachers have also faced delayed entitlements, inadequate insurance and healthcare provision, and continuing problems surrounding implementation of the teacher-ranking scheme. Meanwhile, staff shortages have forced the education system to rely heavily on retirees, overtime and thousands of hourly-paid teachers whose employment and income can be precarious. These pressures have repeatedly brought teachers and retirees onto the streets. In September, education workers gathered in Tehran and several other cities demanding salaries that reflect the real cost of living, payment of outstanding entitlements, improved healthcare and insurance, and proper implementation of the ranking system. But economic hardship represents only one dimension of the pressure. Iran Human Rights Monitor reports that, according to documented cases available up to 28 July 2026, at least 60 teachers and trade-union activists had been arrested, prosecuted, tried or imprisoned since the beginning of the January protests. Some cases were linked to broader protests or political expression rather than solely to trade-union activity. Teachers have faced charges including “propaganda against the system,” “assembly and collusion against national security” and “disrupting public order.” Others have reportedly been dismissed, suspended, forcibly retired, transferred, demoted or subjected to salary deductions. The pressure has continued close to World Teachers’ Day. Six teachers and trade-union activists were reportedly arrested in Nurabad Mamasani on 25 September. By the end of the month, three remained in detention. Women teachers have also been among those arrested, convicted or subjected to employment and judicial pressure. In Kurdistan Province, eight experienced teachers have faced final dismissal decisions, with two reportedly permanently barred from government employment. International organisations have raised concerns about these developments. Education International and the UK’s National Education Union have called for an end to measures against teachers engaged in peaceful trade-union activity and for the release of imprisoned educators. Teachers should not have to choose between poverty and silence. Their rights to adequate living standards, job security, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association must be respected. The international community, teachers’ unions and human rights organisations must continue to closely monitor the situation and stand in solidarity with Iranian educators seeking dignity, professional rights and fundamental freedoms.

United Kingdom | 3 October 2026 On Saturday, 3 October 2026, members of the Iranian Academics Association organised a series of street exhibitions across the United Kingdom, particularly in major cities from the north to the south of the country, calling for an immediate end to executions and systematic human rights violations in Iran. These nationwide activities formed part of the Association’s ongoing campaign to expose the Iranian regime’s escalating use of executions and political repression while mobilising international solidarity with the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom, democracy, justice and a secular democratic republic. Nationwide Campaign Raises Awareness Through public exhibitions, photographs, information displays and face-to-face discussions, members of the Association highlighted the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, particularly the plight of political prisoners, women, young people and individuals facing execution. The exhibitions sought to bring international attention to the Iranian authorities’ use of executions as an instrument of political repression and intimidation. By organising activities across Britain, campaigners aimed to reach a wider audience and demonstrate that the struggle for human rights in Iran deserves sustained international attention. Strong Public Solidarity Across Britain The exhibitions received an encouraging response from members of the British public, who expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and their aspirations for freedom, democratic governance and fundamental human rights. Many visitors signed petitions addressed to the United Nations and the international community, demanding concrete measures to stop executions, protect political prisoners and support the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations. These expressions of solidarity highlighted the growing importance of grassroots campaigns in raising awareness and mobilising international support for human rights. Urgent Appeal to the United Nations and Democratic Governments The Iranian Academics Association emphasised that expressions of concern alone cannot save the lives of prisoners facing imminent execution. The Association calls upon the United Nations, international human rights organisations and democratic governments to take urgent and effective measures to prevent further executions and hold those responsible for serious human rights violations accountable. Campaigners stressed that the international community must prioritise the protection of political prisoners and individuals facing death sentences. They also reaffirmed their support for the Iranian people’s right to determine their own political future and establish a secular democratic republic based on equality, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and the abolition of the death penalty. Continuing the Nationwide Campaign for Freedom and Justice The exhibitions held across Britain represent another important step in the Association’s continuing efforts to mobilise public opinion, strengthen international solidarity and amplify the voices of those facing repression in Iran. Every signature collected and every conversation held contributes to raising awareness and increasing international pressure to end executions. The Iranian Academics Association remains committed to continuing its nationwide awareness campaigns, public exhibitions and international advocacy in support of the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom, democracy and justice. The message delivered across Britain was clear: the Iranian people deserve freedom, democracy and a future without executions. Silence is not neutrality when human lives are at stake. The world must act. #StopExecutionsInIran #Iran #HumanRights #FreeIran

A new report by Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) has identified 166 protesters who have been sentenced to death, whose cases are before the Supreme Court, or who are otherwise reported to be at risk of capital punishment in Iran. Published on 28 September 2026, the report provides names, ages where available, places of detention, charges and the reported judicial status of individual cases. The prisoners are being held across numerous facilities, including Qezel Hesar Prison, Isfahan Central (Dastgerd) Prison, Mashhad Central (Vakilabad) Prison, Shiraz Central (Adelabad) Prison, Lakan Prison in Rasht and other prisons throughout Iran. Many of the cases relate to the nationwide protests of December 2025–January 2026, while others date back to the 2022 protests. Among the charges appearing repeatedly in the documented cases are “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and “efsad-fil-arz” (corruption on Earth)—offences under Iranian law that can carry the death penalty. Other defendants face charges connected with national security, arson, destruction of property or alleged involvement in the deaths of members of the security forces. Particularly alarming is the presence of extremely young defendants. The list includes 16-year-old Amir Hossein Sarban, while several others are recorded as being 17, 18 or 19 years old. In one case, Moslem Eslamkhah, now 21, is reported to have been only 17 at the time of the 2022 protests. Iran HRM alleges serious violations of due-process guarantees in a number of these cases. According to the organisation, defendants have faced expedited proceedings, restrictions on access to independent lawyers and, in some cases, forced confessions obtained under torture or severe pressure. The organisation further reports that some death sentences have already been upheld or confirmed, while other cases have reached or are being reviewed by the Supreme Court. The situation therefore demands urgent international scrutiny. The Iranian Academics Association calls on the United Nations, international human-rights institutions, governments and parliamentarians to urgently examine these cases and press for the suspension of executions. Every defendant must have access to independent legal representation, a fair and transparent judicial process, and protection from torture and coerced confessions. The death penalty must never be used to suppress dissent or punish participation in peaceful protest. Behind every name on this list is a human life—a son or daughter, a parent, a student, a worker, a young person with a future. The international community must act before it is too late. Source: Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM), “Iran: 166 Protesters on Death Row Amid City Militarization,” 28 September 2026.

Thousands of Iranians and supporters gathered outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on 22 September, calling on the international community to take action against executions, political repression and human rights violations in Iran. The demonstration took place as world leaders assembled for the United Nations General Assembly. Protesters gathered at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, carrying banners and calling for an end to executions and for a free and democratic Iran. The New York Post reported that thousands of anti-regime demonstrators took part in the gathering, while other media reported the presence of Iranian-Americans, former political prisoners, human rights activists and political figures. A central focus of the demonstration was the increasing use of the death penalty and the situation of political prisoners in Iran. Former prisoners spoke about their experiences and the fear faced by detainees awaiting execution. Former political prisoner Shirin Nariman, who was arrested in Iran as a teenager, recalled how prisoners understood that when names were called in the afternoon, those prisoners could be heading to the gallows. She urged world leaders to take the growing number of executions seriously. At the same time, speakers stressed that foreign war is not the solution to Iran’s crisis. Demonstrators called for the Iranian people themselves to determine their country’s future and for the international community to support their fundamental rights rather than relying on military intervention. Majid Sadeghpour of the Organization of Iranian American Communities argued that neither a change in the regime’s behaviour nor foreign military intervention would provide the democratic transformation sought by protesters. He called instead for recognition of the Iranian people’s struggle and their organized opposition. The rally also highlighted demands for a future Iran based on democratic government, free elections, separation of religion and state, equality between women and men, respect for minorities, and abolition of the death penalty. Speakers rejected both the continuation of the present theocratic system and a return to dictatorship under the monarchy, arguing instead for a democratic republic in which political authority derives from the will of the people. The gathering came during a week-long campaign in New York against executions in Iran, including rallies, public outreach and candlelight vigils for victims of executions, torture and political persecution. For human rights organisations, the demonstration carries an urgent message beyond New York: the international community must not remain silent when prisoners face execution for political dissent. Iranian Academics Association stands in solidarity with the victims of executions and political repression and supports efforts to protect prisoners facing death sentences. Every life saved matters. The international community must act to defend human rights, demand accountability and support the Iranian people’s right to determine their own future — without war, dictatorship or executions. Source: New York Post, 22 September 2026

16 September 2026 Amnesty International has called for urgent international action to hold Iranian officials accountable for crimes against humanity committed during the violent suppression of nationwide protests, warning that continuing impunity risks enabling further massacres. In a major new report released on the fourth anniversary of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, Amnesty International says Iranian authorities carried out a widespread and systematic attack against protesters and other civilians. The organisation concludes that murder, torture, enforced disappearance, imprisonment, rape and persecution on political, gender, ethnic and religious grounds amounted to crimes against humanity. The investigation, contained in a report exceeding 1,000 pages, examines the state structures and chains of command behind the repression. Amnesty identifies 87 Iranian officials whom it says should be criminally investigated for crimes against humanity. They include 62 security-force commanders and 25 Interior Ministry officials at national, provincial and local levels. According to Amnesty, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran played central roles in suppressing the demonstrations. Security forces repeatedly used assault rifles, handguns and shotguns loaded with metal pellets against protesters and bystanders. Amnesty says evidence including official statements and leaked documents demonstrates that these operations formed part of a coordinated state policy. The human cost was devastating. Amnesty separately documented the deaths of 377 protesters and bystanders, including 56 children, during the 2022 uprising. Kurdish and Baluchi communities were particularly affected, together accounting for 62% of the recorded victims. Amnesty concludes that murder and torture against protesters from these communities were committed with discriminatory intent on political and ethnic grounds. The findings are based on extensive research, including interviews with 270 people—among them protesters, former detainees, victims’ relatives, lawyers, journalists, medical workers and human-rights defenders. Researchers also analysed more than 2,000 videos, official documents, court decisions, forensic records and other evidence. Amnesty says it contacted Iran’s Supreme Leader and senior security officials regarding its findings and the 87 officials identified, but had received no response by publication. Amnesty warns that the absence of accountability has contributed to repeated cycles of repression, including further mass killings during protests in January 2026. It argues that domestic mechanisms cannot provide effective accountability because Iran’s judicial and security structures themselves are implicated in serious human-rights violations. The organisation is therefore urging the UN General Assembly to establish an international criminal justice mechanism for Iran. It also calls on states to pursue investigations under universal or other forms of extraterritorial jurisdiction and, where sufficient evidence exists, issue arrest warrants against suspected perpetrators. Amnesty additionally urges states to seek referral of the situation in Iran to the International Criminal Court through the UN Security Council. The report delivers a stark message: without credible accountability for past atrocities, civilians in Iran remain vulnerable to renewed repression. International justice, Amnesty argues, is therefore not only about addressing crimes already committed, but also about preventing their recurrence. Source: Amnesty International USA — Iran: Architects of Crimes Against Humanity to Suppress Protests Must Face International Justice

The case of Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi has become a disturbing symbol of the repression facing young people detained following Iran’s January 2026 protests. Arrested while still teenagers, the sisters have reportedly endured months of imprisonment and severe mistreatment. Taraneh has now been sentenced to death, while Romina has received a 25-year prison sentence. The twins were 19-year-old high-school students when security forces arrested them following the nationwide protests in January. According to their family, masked agents took the young women during nighttime raids, after which their whereabouts remained unknown for months. Their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, desperately searched hospitals, police stations and government offices trying to discover what had happened to her daughters. Eventually, she learned they were being held at Dowlatabad prison in Isfahan. When she was finally permitted to see them, their condition reportedly left her struggling to recognise her own daughters. According to their US-based cousin, Masoud Nourmohammadi, the twins had swollen and bruised faces, injuries to their elbows, knuckles and feet, and large amounts of their hair had been torn out. He said they had been subjected to solitary confinement and dragged between cells by their hair. Particularly alarming are allegations surrounding Taraneh’s confession. Her family says she was forced to sign a confession after interrogators threatened to sexually assault Romina in front of her if she refused. That alleged coerced confession was subsequently used against Taraneh, who has now been sentenced to death. Romina received a 25-year prison sentence. The sisters are among 16 defendants prosecuted in Isfahan in connection with the January demonstrations. Charges against them reportedly include “moharebeh,” or “waging war against God,” as well as assembly and collusion, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and offences relating to public property. Their family disputes the accusations and says there is no credible evidence establishing that the sisters committed violent acts. Taraneh’s physical condition has also raised serious concern. Her cousin has said that she had previously undergone surgery on her leg and had plates and screws inserted. Following her treatment in detention, her condition reportedly deteriorated so severely that she has struggled to walk. Despite a prison doctor reportedly recommending urgent hospital treatment, her family says adequate medical care has been denied. The case comes amid growing international concern over Iran’s use of capital punishment against people detained in connection with protests. Human-rights organisations have documented allegations of torture, prolonged solitary confinement, threats of sexual violence and forced confessions in death-penalty cases. Taraneh and Romina’s ordeal therefore reaches far beyond the fate of two young sisters. It represents an urgent test for the international community. Taraneh’s execution must be stopped, and Romina and all prisoners subjected to torture and politically motivated prosecutions must receive urgent international protection. Silence cannot be an option when a young woman’s life may depend on immediate international action.

British parliamentarians, legal experts and members of the Anglo-Iranian community have urged the UK Government to place human rights, accountability and the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations at the centre of its policy towards Iran. At a cross-party meeting in Parliament on 10 September, speakers warned that Iran’s worsening human-rights crisis requires urgent international action, particularly as executions and death sentences continue to be used to suppress political dissent. Participants highlighted politically motivated executions and death sentences against protesters and members and supporters of the democratic Iranian opposition. They argued that the authorities are increasingly using capital punishment as an instrument of intimidation to discourage protests and prevent further nationwide uprisings. The meeting called for immediate international action to protect political prisoners facing execution and warned against allowing atrocities comparable to the 1988 massacre of political prisoners to be repeated. Speakers also argued that decades of experience have demonstrated the failure of both military confrontation and policies of appeasement to provide a sustainable solution to the Iranian crisis. Instead, they called for a new approach based on human rights, accountability and recognition of the Iranian people’s right to determine their own political future. Addressing the meeting by video, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) for the transitional period, said the regime’s greatest challenge is an increasingly defiant younger generation demanding fundamental change. She highlighted the severe conditions facing detained protesters and political prisoners, including overcrowding and inadequate access to food, medicine and medical treatment. She also pointed to the continuing “No to Executions” campaign inside Iranian prisons. Rajavi called on Britain and the international community to make diplomatic and economic relations with Tehran conditional on an end to executions, pursue those responsible for the 1988 massacre and subsequent killings through international legal mechanisms, and ensure that future agreements with Iran include verifiable human-rights commitments. Cross-party parliamentarians echoed calls for tougher action. Bob Blackman MP warned against replacing the current theocracy with a return to hereditary monarchy, stressing that Iran’s future must be founded on popular sovereignty, pluralism and democratic accountability. Baroness O’Loan called on Britain to support democratic change, advance international accountability and condition future relations with Tehran on an end to executions and torture and the release of political prisoners. Jim Shannon MP, Sammy Wilson MP and Lord McCabe similarly emphasised the right of Iranians to determine their future and expressed support for an organised democratic alternative. The parliamentary discussion took place against an increasingly alarming human-rights backdrop. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently reported that since March 2026, 59 people have been executed in Iran on national-security-related charges—already exceeding the total recorded on such charges throughout 2025. The central message from the meeting was clear: Iran’s future should not be determined by foreign war, appeasement or the restoration of a previous dictatorship. It must be determined by the Iranian people themselves. Participants therefore urged the UK Government to adopt a principled policy that stands with Iranians seeking an end to executions, accountability for serious human-rights violations, and a peaceful transition towards a secular, democratic republic.

Richard Kemp, a long-serving Liverpool councillor and former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, has spoken out against the continuing wave of executions in Iran, drawing attention to the young protesters and dissidents whose lives are being taken amid an escalating campaign of repression. In his latest article, “The Executions Continue in Iran,” Kemp describes the executions as a brutal assault on people seeking the basic freedoms and opportunities that people elsewhere take for granted. He pays particular tribute to those who have faced the gallows for standing up for fundamental civil rights and stresses the importance of ensuring that their stories are neither forgotten nor overshadowed by the wider conflict surrounding Iran. Kemp also expresses his continued support for David Afrash and fellow Iranian campaigners working to draw international attention to the executions and the plight of those facing death sentences. We welcome Richard Kemp’s powerful intervention and his continued solidarity with the Iranian people. At a time when executions are being used to silence dissent and intimidate society, international voices must speak louder and act with greater urgency. The international community must press for an immediate halt to executions in Iran and stand with those demanding freedom, human rights and a future free from repression.

During the second half of August, Iran’s human-rights situation deteriorated further. Executions remain central to the repression, alongside new death sentences against January uprising detainees, mass arrests, corporal punishment, harsh prison conditions, restrictions on journalism and renewed persecution of religious minorities.  Executions and death sentences  According to Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM), 977 executions were documented in the first seven months of 2026. In July alone, 87 were recorded, including three women, two people executed for offences allegedly committed while under 18, and nine political prisoners; 73 were never officially announced.¹ The full August total is not yet available, but executions have remained exceptionally high. Between 23 and 26 August, 23 prisoners, including three women, were executed — nearly one every four hours.²  The execution of January uprising detainees is particularly alarming. On 20 August, Ghaem Hosseini, a young Afghan-origin detainee arrested in the Alikhani Square case in Isfahan, was hanged. Reuters confirmed the case was linked to the January protests.   His prosecution had raised concerns over access to lawyers, closed or remote proceedings and alleged coerced confessions.³  On 23 August, Majid Adineh was executed after being arrested during the January uprising near Karaj. The judiciary accused him of acting on behalf of the United States, Israel and opposition groups under national-security and espionage legislation.   The Associated Press reported the authorities’ allegation that a handgun found in his possession had been fired during the protests. Questions remain over the transparency of the proceedings, independent legal representation and the evidence used to impose the death penalty.⁴  On 27 August, reports emerged that Leila Abolhasani, a 43-year-old mother of two teenage daughters, had been sentenced to death for moharebeh (“enmity against God”).   Arrested during the January protests in Shahin Shahr, she was accused of participating in arson. A source close to her family says she was only filming a supermarket already on fire. The evidence against her and details of her defence have not been made public; her appeal is before the Supreme Court.⁵  Prisons, arrests and corporal punishment  Conditions facing January detainees remain equally disturbing. In Ward 37 of Unit 3 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, 65 identified uprising detainees are reportedly being held in severe overcrowding without adequate medical care or basic amenities. Several face the death penalty and are reportedly denied access to legal counsel. In Karaj Central Prison, an estimated 300–400 prisoners, mostly January detainees, have been held in similarly overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with prisoners reportedly sleeping on floors and receiving extremely restricted access to showers.⁶  Women protesters have also been subjected to corporal punishment. On 22 August, Neda Dadehjani and Setayesh (Behnoush) Sarabi, arrested during the January uprising, were each given 31 lashes before being transferred to Sanandaj Prison. Their sentences also include imprisonment and internal exile.⁷  From left to right: Neda Dadehjani and Setayesh Sarabi  The security crackdown is continuing outside prison walls. On 28 August, the Intelligence Ministry announced the arrest of 30 people in Mahallat and Nimvar over alleged involvement in the January protests. Their identities, whereabouts and access to lawyers have not been fully disclosed.⁸  Freedom of expression and religious persecution  The authorities are simultaneously tightening control over information. Parliament has advanced legislation that could criminalise unauthorised communication with foreign media and expose Iranians to prison sentences merely for providing interviews, photographs or information. This follows the 15-year prison sentence imposed on prominent photojournalist Yalda Moaiery, whose work has extensively documented women and protests in Iran.⁹  Religious minorities also remain under pressure. Between 22 and 25 August, authorities raided Bahá’í homes and workplaces across seven provinces. The Bahá’í International Community reported that 11 people were arrested or imprisoned, while security forces seized computers, professional equipment, cash, jewellery and other personal property.¹⁰  Taken together, these developments show that the January crackdown has not ended; it has moved increasingly from the streets into prisons, Revolutionary Courts and the execution chamber. The accelerating use of executions alongside arbitrary detention, flogging, denial of due process and restrictions on information demands sustained international pressure, independent access to prisoners and concrete accountability for those responsible.  Footnotes 

For decades, Iran’s ruling establishment has relied on repression, fear and an extensive security apparatus to preserve its grip on power. Yet despite executions, imprisonment and violent crackdowns, one force has repeatedly proved impossible to eliminate: the determination of Iranians who continue to demand fundamental political change. At the centre of the regime’s system of control are the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia. These forces have played a central role in suppressing protests and intimidating communities whenever public anger has spilled into the streets. Their purpose extends beyond conventional security: they are essential instruments for protecting the ruling system against opposition from within Iranian society. But repression has not produced lasting silence. Successive waves of protests have demonstrated the depth of dissatisfaction across Iran. Women and young people have been particularly visible, while workers, students and other sectors of society have repeatedly challenged the authorities despite the enormous personal risks involved. This persistence presents Tehran with a fundamental problem. A government can arrest demonstrators, restrict communications and attempt to prevent protests from spreading, but it cannot easily eliminate the grievances that continually bring people back onto the streets. That is why the most important force confronting the Iranian regime is ultimately not a foreign army or military intervention. It is the Iranian people themselves. Iran’s struggle should therefore not be viewed simply through the prism of international confrontation. Foreign governments understandably focus on nuclear ambitions, regional instability and Tehran’s military activities. But Iran also faces a profound internal struggle over the country’s political future. Those seeking democratic change are confronting a state equipped with powerful security institutions and prepared to use severe punishment against its opponents. Political prisoners and protesters continue to face imprisonment and the threat of execution, making international attention to human rights particularly important. The international community should stand with Iranians demanding basic freedoms while recognising that Iran’s political future ultimately belongs to its people. Supporting human rights, condemning executions, holding perpetrators of serious abuses accountable and amplifying the voices of those struggling peacefully for freedom can strengthen the Iranian people’s ability to determine their own future. The fundamental contest is therefore between two very different sources of power: a ruling establishment dependent on coercion and a population whose demands cannot permanently be extinguished by force. History repeatedly demonstrates that repression has limits. Governments can imprison individuals and attempt to silence dissent, but ideas and aspirations are much harder to imprison. Iran’s greatest potential for democratic transformation lies precisely there — in citizens who, despite enormous risks, continue to refuse silence and insist that their country can have a different future.

The Iranian Academics Association organised a series of street exhibitions across northern parts of the United Kingdom, including Manchester and other cities, to raise public awareness about the alarming escalation of executions and repression in Iran. The exhibitions attracted significant attention from members of the public, many of whom stopped to view the displays, speak with organisers and express their solidarity with the Iranian people. At the centre of the exhibitions was an urgent call to halt executions in Iran, particularly the execution of political prisoners and protesters, including women, girls and young people who have been arrested for taking part in nationwide demonstrations demanding freedom, fundamental rights and an end to dictatorship. Through photographs, posters, information displays and conversations with passers-by, members of the Iranian Academics Association highlighted the continuing human rights crisis in Iran and the dangers facing prisoners sentenced to death following their participation in anti-government protests. The organisers stressed that many of those at risk are young Iranians whose demand has been for a future based on freedom, democracy and respect for fundamental human rights. They called on the international community not to remain silent while the Iranian authorities use imprisonment, repression and capital punishment to intimidate a population seeking political and social change. The exhibitions received a warm and encouraging response from the British public. Visitors expressed concern about the situation facing political prisoners and protesters and showed particular sympathy for women, girls and young people who have played a prominent role in demanding freedom and equality. The campaign comes amid growing international concern over Iran’s increasing use of capital punishment. Human rights organisations and United Nations experts have repeatedly warned about death sentences imposed on protesters and serious concerns surrounding due process, fair trials and allegations of torture and ill-treatment. Organisers of the exhibitions said that international solidarity can play an important role in saving lives. They urged the UK Government, parliamentarians, elected representatives, human rights organisations and the wider international community to increase political and diplomatic pressure on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt executions and introduce a moratorium on the death penalty. They also called for stronger international action to defend political prisoners and those detained for peacefully demanding their basic rights. The street exhibitions in Manchester and other cities across northern Britain formed part of a continuing public campaign by the Iranian Academics Association to bring the voices of Iranian prisoners, protesters and their families to the attention of the international community. The message displayed throughout the exhibitions was clear: taking part in protests and demanding freedom must never become grounds for imprisonment or execution. The organisers pledged to continue their activities across the United Kingdom and to mobilise public support for those in Iran who are risking their lives for freedom, democracy and a future free from religious dictatorship. Stop Executions in Iran. Save the lives of political prisoners. Stand with Iran’s women, girls and young people demanding freedom.

The Iranian regime has once again demonstrated its reliance on public executions as a tool of intimidation. On 28 July 2026, two young protesters were publicly hanged in Isfahan’s Shahid Alikhani Square—the very location where anti-government demonstrations had taken place during the nationwide protests earlier this year. The executions have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and renewed international concern over Tehran’s use of the death penalty to silence dissent. According to reports, the two men, Abdolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amir Hossein Safari Hosseinabadi, had been convicted over allegations that they were involved in the deaths of four security personnel during the January protests. Iranian authorities staged the executions in public before a crowd in what many observers described as an attempt to instill fear among citizens and discourage further demonstrations. Witnesses reportedly shouted “Dishonorable!” as the executions were carried out, reflecting public outrage even in the face of heavy security measures. Human rights experts have raised serious concerns about the fairness of the judicial process. The United Nations Human Rights Office and international rights organizations reported allegations that the defendants were subjected to enforced disappearance, denied access to lawyers of their own choosing, and forced to confess under torture. Such allegations have fueled criticism that the trials failed to meet internationally recognized standards of due process. The executions are part of a much broader campaign of repression following the nationwide protests that swept across Iran in January. Since then, dozens of protesters have reportedly been sentenced to death, while many more remain imprisoned under harsh conditions. Rights groups warn that the authorities are increasingly using capital punishment as a political weapon designed to suppress public opposition rather than to administer justice. These latest executions come at a time when resistance inside Iranian prisons is also intensifying. In Ghezel Hesar Prison, one of Iran’s largest detention facilities, more than 1,500 death-row prisoners have launched an unprecedented hunger strike to protest the surge in executions. Some prisoners have reportedly sewn their lips shut in a desperate attempt to draw international attention to what they describe as systematic abuse of the death penalty. Human rights campaigners argue that public executions are intended not only to punish individuals but also to send a message of fear to society at large. However, they contend that such measures have failed to extinguish public demands for freedom, justice, and accountability. Instead, every execution further deepens international concern about Iran’s human rights record and strengthens calls for governments, the United Nations, and democratic institutions to take concrete action against the regime’s continued violations of fundamental rights. As pressure grows both inside and outside Iran, campaigners insist that silence from the international community only emboldens further repression. They are urging democratic governments to increase diplomatic pressure, support independent investigations into human rights abuses, and work toward holding those responsible for unlawful executions accountable under international law.

As American bombs fall on Iran and explosions dominate international headlines, another deadly crisis is unfolding behind the walls of the country’s prisons. Human rights campaigners warn that the Iranian authorities may be exploiting the chaos of war to accelerate executions and eliminate political opponents while the world’s attention is focused on military developments. The conflict and US bombing have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across Iran. However, for prisoners already facing death sentences, the danger is even more immediate. Reports indicate that numerous political detainees could be executed with little warning as the authorities intensify repression under the cover of a national emergency. The regime has frequently used periods of domestic or international crisis to increase arrests, restrict communications and silence opposition. Campaigners fear that the current military confrontation could provide the authorities with an opportunity to carry out executions away from sustained international scrutiny. Political prisoners accused of supporting the Iranian opposition are among those considered to be at greatest risk. Many have reportedly been convicted after proceedings criticised for lacking basic standards of fairness. Allegations include denial of access to independent lawyers, prolonged solitary confinement, forced confessions and pressure placed on prisoners’ families. Charges commonly used in such cases include “enmity against God,” “corruption on earth” and acting against national security. These vaguely defined accusations can carry the death penalty and have repeatedly been used against protesters, dissidents and people suspected of involvement with resistance units inside the country. Despite the intensified security atmosphere, resistance units inside Iran have continued their activities against repression. Their actions reportedly include displaying anti-government messages, commemorating victims of state violence, supporting political prisoners and encouraging public opposition to executions. The authorities have responded with surveillance, raids and mass arrests. Families of prisoners are also facing enormous pressure, often receiving little information about the location, health or legal status of their loved ones. In some cases, relatives may only learn that an execution is imminent when they are suddenly summoned for a final visit. Human rights advocates stress that opposition to executions must not be confused with support for foreign military intervention. Iranian civilians should not be forced to choose between bombs from abroad and repression at home. They deserve protection from war, dictatorship and state violence. Campaigners are calling on the United Nations, the British Government, European governments and international human rights organisations to demand an immediate halt to executions. They are also urging governments to warn the Iranian authorities that officials responsible for politically motivated executions will be held accountable. As images of bombs, missiles and destruction capture global attention, the international community must not forget those awaiting execution in Iranian prisons. War must not become a shield behind which the authorities can quietly hang political prisoners. Every execution is irreversible. Public pressure, diplomatic intervention and urgent international attention could still save lives.

A remarkable act of collective resistance has emerged from Iran’s Ghezel Hesar Prison, where approximately 1,500 death-row prisoners have launched a mass hunger strike and sit-in protest against a new wave of executions. The action is one of the largest prison protests in recent Iranian history and has intensified international concern over the country’s growing use of capital punishment. The protest began after prison authorities reportedly transferred six prisoners to solitary confinement, a step widely understood to precede execution. In response, inmates in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison collectively refused food, declaring that they would continue their protest until executions were halted and previous promises by officials to reduce the use of the death penalty for certain offences were honored. In a statement circulated from inside the prison, the prisoners appealed directly to the Iranian people and the international community, urging them to become “the voice of prisoners in chains” and to oppose executions. Their message reflects growing desperation among inmates who fear that many more executions could take place in the coming weeks. Ghezel Hesar Prison, located near Tehran, has long been regarded by human rights organizations as one of Iran’s most notorious detention facilities. Reports have consistently described severe overcrowding, inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and harsh living conditions. The prison has also become synonymous with the country’s extensive use of capital punishment, particularly for prisoners convicted of drug-related offences. The latest hunger strike comes amid mounting criticism from international human rights organizations over Iran’s increasing execution rate. Rights groups have repeatedly warned that many defendants receive unfair trials, limited access to legal representation, and convictions based on coerced confessions or procedures that fail to meet international legal standards. The Iranian opposition has called on governments, the United Nations, and international human rights institutions to respond urgently to the unfolding situation. Campaigners argue that stronger diplomatic pressure and sustained international scrutiny are essential to prevent further executions and to protect prisoners whose lives may be in immediate danger. Families of prisoners have also appealed for international solidarity, emphasizing that public attention can help reduce the risk of secret executions. Previous campaigns by prisoners and their relatives have occasionally resulted in temporary suspensions of executions, reinforcing the belief that international pressure can influence decisions by the Iranian authorities. As the hunger strike continues, concern is growing over both the health of the protesting prisoners and the possibility of further executions. Human rights advocates argue that the international community should closely monitor developments, demand transparency regarding the fate of those on death row, and continue pressing Iran to comply with its international human rights obligations. The mass protest at Ghezel Hesar Prison stands as a powerful reminder of the human cost of capital punishment in Iran and underscores the urgent need for renewed global attention to the country’s human rights situation.