Between late December 2025 and early January 2026, Iranian authorities carried out a wave of executions at a pace rarely seen in recent years. According to figures released by the Secretariat of the (NCRI), at least 108 prisoners were executed over a ten-day period, while a total of 172 executions were recorded in the first two weeks of the Iranian month of Dey (December 22 – January 4). The executions took place across dozens of cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Kerman, and Karaj.
This escalation is occurring as Iran faces widespread social unrest and renewed protests led largely by young people. NCRI reports describe the country as being “ablaze with the uprising of rebellious youths,” and claim the authorities are relying increasingly on executions to intimidate the population and prevent further mobilization. In December alone, at least 403 executions were reportedly carried out, marking one of the deadliest months in years.
The individuals executed came from diverse regions and backgrounds. Among those put to death were young men in their twenties, several prisoners in their thirties, and at least one woman, Tayebeh Hekmat, executed in Zanjan. The geographic spread of the executions—from Kurdistan and Baluchistan to Khuzestan, Khorasan, and central provinces—underscores the nationwide nature of the campaign.
On January 5 alone, twelve prisoners were hanged in multiple prisons. The day before, sixteen more were executed in at least thirteen different cities. Similar numbers were recorded almost daily from December 27 onward, with some days seeing as many as twenty executions. NCRI states that many of these executions were carried out quietly, without public announcements, and only later confirmed through local sources and prison networks.
Human rights advocates warn that the rapid pace of executions suggests a deliberate strategy to rule through fear. Public hangings and mass death sentences have historically been used by the Iranian authorities to suppress dissent, particularly during periods of political instability. The current surge coincides with growing labor protests, student activism, and acts of civil disobedience reported in numerous provinces.
Families of prisoners, often notified only hours before executions, have described being denied final visits or legal transparency. International human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized Iran’s judicial system for its lack of due process, reliance on forced confessions, and disproportionate use of the death penalty, especially against political detainees, ethnic minorities, and economically marginalized individuals.
The scale of executions reported in this short period has renewed calls for urgent international action. Activists are demanding that the United Nations, the European Union, and governments worldwide condemn the killings, press for independent investigations, and link diplomatic and economic relations with Iran to measurable human rights improvements.
As protests continue to simmer beneath the surface, the recent execution spree signals not stability, but fear within the ruling establishment. Rather than silencing dissent, observers warn, such measures may further deepen public anger and international isolation, adding to the volatility of an already fragile situation.