At the same time, prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison have continued a hunger strike opposing the use of capital punishment, particularly in drug-related cases, News.Az reports.
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The developments have renewed attention on Iran’s use of the death penalty, especially in cases linked to political dissent and anti-government demonstrations.
What happened in the latest executions and court rulings?
According to reports by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), two prisoners were executed by hanging at Iranshahr Prison in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province. One of those executed, Abdolvahed Sangari, had been arrested in 2019 following a fatal altercation and was sentenced to death after being convicted of murder. The second prisoner, Meysam Irandegani, was convicted of a murder committed when he was 14 years old. He was initially held in a juvenile correction and rehabilitation center before being transferred to Iranshahr Prison, where the execution was carried out.
HRANA reported that neither execution had been officially announced by Iranian authorities at the time of publication.
At the same time, several protest-related legal cases reached significant milestones. A Revolutionary Court in Isfahan sentenced 22-year-old rapper Mehnam Navab Safavi to death on a charge of moharebeh (“enmity against God”). According to HRANA, prosecutors accused him of destroying public property, conducting propaganda against the state, assembly and collusion against national security, encouraging murder, and writing protest slogans during demonstrations that began in January 2026.
In another case, political prisoner Amirhassan Akbari Monfared was sentenced to death on a charge of baghi (armed rebellion) through alleged membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK). Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Ahad Shokouhian, another defendant arrested during the protests, while overturning the death sentence of political prisoner Karim Khojasteh and ordering a retrial that ultimately resulted in a lengthy prison sentence instead.
Together, these cases illustrate the continued use of capital punishment both in ordinary criminal cases and in prosecutions connected to political unrest.
What are moharebeh and baghi under Iranian law?
Several of the recent cases involve charges that are specific to Iran’s Islamic Penal Code and are frequently used in politically sensitive prosecutions.
Moharebeh, often translated as “enmity against God,” is among the most serious offenses under Iranian law. Traditionally, the charge applies to individuals accused of using weapons or violence to create fear, threaten public security, or challenge the state. However, human rights organizations have argued that Iranian authorities have sometimes interpreted the offense broadly, particularly in cases involving political protests or opposition activities. A conviction can carry the death penalty.
Baghi, meaning armed rebellion, is another capital offense. Under Iranian law, it generally refers to participation in or membership of an armed group that rises against the Islamic Republic. Authorities have used the charge in cases involving alleged affiliation with armed opposition organizations, including the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK), which Tehran considers a terrorist organization.
Supporters of Iran’s legal system argue that these offenses are intended to protect national security and public order during periods of unrest. Critics, including numerous international human rights organizations, contend that the laws are sometimes applied broadly against political opponents and protesters, raising concerns about due process, access to legal representation, and fair trial standards.
Because convictions under moharebeh and baghi may result in execution, such cases often receive significant international attention and scrutiny.
Why are the protest-related cases attracting international attention?
The latest rulings are closely connected to nationwide protests that began in late 2025 and continued into 2026. Demonstrations reportedly occurred across multiple Iranian cities and involved a range of political, economic, and social grievances. As with previous periods of unrest, Iranian authorities responded with widespread arrests, criminal prosecutions, and investigations into individuals accused of organizing or participating in demonstrations.
Human rights organizations have closely monitored these proceedings because several defendants have received death sentences linked to protest-related allegations rather than ordinary criminal offenses. International observers have expressed concern about allegations involving limited access to lawyers, disputed evidence, reliance on confessions, and the broad application of national security laws.
The case of Ahad Shokouhian illustrates some of these concerns. According to HRANA, his family disputes the allegations against him, arguing that he was mistaken for another individual and that surveillance footage supporting his defense was not fully examined. Iranian authorities have not publicly accepted those claims.
The sentencing of rapper Mehnam Navab Safavi has also drawn attention because the reported allegations include writing protest slogans in addition to more serious security-related accusations. Cases involving artists, journalists, activists, and political prisoners often generate heightened international interest because they raise broader questions about freedom of expression and political dissent.
Iranian authorities, for their part, have consistently maintained that prosecutions connected to unrest are based on criminal conduct and threats to national security rather than peaceful political expression.
What is happening at Ghezel Hesar Prison?
Alongside the court rulings, prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj have continued a hunger strike protesting the implementation of death sentences. According to HRANA, inmates in Ward 2 entered the tenth consecutive day of their protest after six prisoners convicted in drug-related cases were transferred to solitary confinement ahead of planned executions.
Participants reportedly refused prison meals and staged a sit-in to demonstrate their opposition to capital punishment. HRANA said the prisoners were specifically protesting executions in drug-related cases, although their broader message opposed the use of the death penalty more generally. Videos reportedly recorded inside the prison have shown aspects of the protest, though independent verification of such footage is often difficult.
Hunger strikes are among the few forms of protest available to prisoners inside correctional facilities. They are intended to draw public attention to concerns over prison conditions, legal proceedings, or government policies. Similar protests against executions have reportedly occurred previously at Ghezel Hesar Prison.
Iran has historically carried out a significant number of executions involving drug-related offenses, although legal reforms in recent years reduced the use of capital punishment for some narcotics crimes. Nevertheless, executions related to drug convictions continue under certain circumstances, and the issue remains controversial both inside Iran and internationally.
What could happen next?
Several of the cases remain within Iran’s judicial process. Defendants who have received death sentences may pursue additional legal appeals or seek other forms of judicial review where available under Iranian law. In some instances, higher courts may uphold, overturn, or order retrials, as occurred in the case of Karim Khojasteh, whose death sentence was ultimately replaced by a prison term following Supreme Court intervention.
Human rights organizations are expected to continue monitoring these cases closely and may issue further reports as new court decisions emerge. International governments and organizations could also respond through diplomatic statements or calls for greater transparency regarding judicial proceedings and the application of the death penalty.
Meanwhile, authorities may continue investigating activities linked to the protests that began in late 2025, resulting in additional court proceedings involving individuals accused of participating in demonstrations or belonging to opposition groups.
Inside Iran’s prison system, the hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison could continue if inmates maintain their protest against executions. Prison authorities will likely monitor the health of participating prisoners while maintaining security within the facility.
Overall, the latest executions, protest-related death sentences, and prison demonstrations illustrate the continuing legal and political tensions surrounding Iran’s response to recent nationwide protests. The cases are likely to remain under close domestic and international scrutiny as judicial proceedings continue.
