As executions accelerate across prisons nationwide, rights advocates warn that Tehran is using capital punishment as a tool of intimidation amid growing social unrest and political uncertainty.
Iran’s execution machinery has once again intensified at an alarming pace. According to reports from Iranian opposition and human rights sources, at least 31 prisoners were executed between June 13 and June 16, an average of one execution every three hours.
The wave of executions, carried out across multiple prisons and provinces, reflects the Iranian regime’s continued reliance on capital punishment as a mechanism of control and intimidation at a time of mounting domestic discontent. Human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that Tehran frequently escalates executions during periods of political tension and social unrest in an effort to deter dissent and project strength.
Eight Executions in Ghezel Hesar Prison
The latest execution spree began on Saturday, June 13, when authorities reportedly hanged eight prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, one of Iran’s most notorious detention facilities.
Among those executed were Seyyed Akbar Bani-Hashem and Amir-Abbas Dekavand. The identities of six additional prisoners have not yet been independently verified.
Ghezel Hesar Prison has long been associated with a high number of executions and has repeatedly been cited by human rights organizations as a symbol of Iran’s extensive use of the death penalty.
Ten Prisoners Executed on June 14
The following day, June 14, authorities reportedly executed ten prisoners in various cities across the country.
Those identified among the victims include Hassan Hosseini Narouei and 27-year-old Ali-Bakhsh Raeisi in Zahedan, both members of Iran’s Baluch minority. Other reported executions included Majid Zarrinpour in Shiraz, Saadan Hasani in Hamedan, Amin Rajabian in Shirvan, 24-year-old Ali Alipour in Amol, 23-year-old Mohammad Javad Salmani in Kashan, Seyyed Adnan Mousavi in Ahvaz, 24-year-old Hassan Fatemi in Sari, and Amir Kaffashi, 35, in Shiraz.
The geographical spread of the executions highlights the nationwide scope of Iran’s use of capital punishment, affecting prisoners from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds.
Another Eight Executions on June 15
On Monday, June 15, reports indicated that eight additional prisoners were put to death.
Among them were Mohammad Amin Narouei and Balal Saadat-Jahani, known as Gorgij, a 35-year-old member of the Baluch community, both executed in Birjand. Other identified victims included Aram Zarei in Sanandaj, Hamidreza Afsharipour, Mohammadreza Gashool, and 27-year-old Fariborz Jafari in Isfahan, Rasool Atapour in Tabriz, and Ali (Alireza) Ahmadi Balesini, also known as Ali Balance, in Ghezel Hesar Prison.
The continued execution of members of ethnic minorities, particularly Baluch prisoners, has drawn repeated criticism from international human rights organizations, which have documented disproportionately high rates of executions among minority communities.
Five More Executions Reported on June 16
The execution campaign continued on Tuesday, June 16, with at least five additional prisoners reportedly sent to the gallows.
Among those identified were Omar Shahbakhsh and Ghafoor Shahbakhsh, both Baluch prisoners executed in Yazd, and Mahmoud Ahmadi in Sanandaj. The names of two other victims had been reported previously.
The latest figures bring the total number of known executions during the four-day period to at least 31.
A Growing Human Rights Crisis
Iran remains one of the world’s leading executioners per capita, drawing sustained condemnation from international human rights organizations. Critics argue that the regime’s extensive use of the death penalty, often following trials lacking internationally recognized standards of due process, serves not only as a judicial punishment but also as a political instrument designed to instill fear throughout society.
The sharp increase in executions comes amid continuing economic hardship, political tensions, and widespread public dissatisfaction. Rights advocates warn that the authorities may be attempting to suppress potential unrest through an intensified campaign of repression.
Calls for International Action
In response to the latest executions, Iranian opposition groups and human rights advocates have renewed calls for urgent international intervention.
They have urged the United Nations, international human rights organizations, the European Union, and democratic governments worldwide to take immediate measures to pressure Tehran to halt executions and hold Iranian officials accountable for ongoing human rights violations.
As concerns grow over the accelerating pace of executions, activists argue that stronger international scrutiny is essential to prevent further loss of life and to challenge what they describe as a systematic policy of state-sponsored repression.
