The execution of 26-year-old PMOI member Mehdi Khanaki highlights the Iranian regime’s continued use of capital punishment against political prisoners linked to the January 2026 uprising.
The Iranian regime executed Mehdi Khanaki, a 26-year-old law graduate and member of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), on the morning of July 22, 2026, following months of reported physical and psychological torture. His execution marks the latest in a series of death sentences carried out against political prisoners accused of supporting the January 2026 nationwide uprising.
According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Khanaki was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj on charges of membership in the PMOI and active participation in the January uprising. The court also ordered the confiscation of all his property.
Arrest Following the January Uprising
Khanaki had reportedly been sought by the regime’s security forces since the January 2026 uprising before being arrested in Karaj on February 10, 2026.
The NCRI stated that it informed the UN Special Rapporteur and international human rights organizations of his arrest and the severe torture he allegedly endured as early as March 1.
Two days after his arrest, state-run media announced that authorities had detained “a member of the Monafeqin [PMOI] terrorist group” in Alborz Province, without identifying him by name. The announcement, published on February 12, was attributed to the Intelligence Organization of the State Security Force.
Regime Claims Over Weapons Allegations
On the day of the execution, the regime’s judiciary attempted to justify the death sentence by alleging that Khanaki had received firearms, ammunition, and communications equipment shortly before the January uprising.
According to the judiciary’s statement, authorities claimed forensic examinations linked weapons allegedly seized from Khanaki to events during the January protests. No independent evidence has been made publicly available to verify these allegations, and human rights advocates have repeatedly criticized the lack of due process and transparency in politically sensitive cases before Iran’s Revolutionary Courts.
Maryam Rajavi Condemns the Execution
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), strongly condemned Khanaki’s execution and the continuing executions of political prisoners and young protesters.
She described the executions as evidence of the regime’s fear of organized resistance and the resilience of the Iranian people, particularly those who participated in the January 2026 uprising. Rajavi argued that the growing use of executions reflects the authorities’ concern over mounting public discontent and the persistence of opposition to the ruling religious dictatorship.
The 26-year-old PMOI freedom fighter, Mehdi Khanaki, was executed this morning by the clerical regime in Iran. He had been wanted since the January uprising and was arrested on February 10 in Karaj.
His arrest and severe torture were reported to the UN Special Rapporteur and…— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) July 22, 2026
She also called on the international community to respond decisively to what she characterized as the regime’s escalating campaign of repression against political dissidents.
Growing Concern Over Political Executions
The execution of Mehdi Khanaki comes amid continued reports of increasing use of capital punishment against individuals accused of political activities or alleged ties to opposition groups. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that executions are being used as a tool to intimidate society and suppress dissent.
For many observers, Khanaki’s case underscores the risks faced by political prisoners in Iran, where allegations of torture, forced confessions, and trials lacking fundamental due process continue to draw international criticism.
As executions of political prisoners continue, calls are intensifying for stronger international action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its human rights violations and to protect those detained for their political beliefs.
