Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities to immediately halt plans to execute eight individuals sentenced to death for alleged involvement in the January 2026 nationwide protests, urging that their convictions be quashed and that expedited, torture-tainted trials against at least 22 others be stopped. The organization has identified at least 30 people at risk of execution, including minors and young adults, highlighting systemic violations of fair trial rights such as denial of legal representation, incommunicado detention, and forced confessions.
The condemned include Saleh Mohammadi, 18, and Mohammad Amin Biglari, 19, along with six others who received death sentences within weeks of their arrests. Additional individuals, including two 17-year-old children, face similar risks under trials criticized for relying on coerced confessions and ignoring independent legal counsel. Amnesty International warns that the actual number of those threatened with execution is likely higher due to enforced disappearances and intimidation of families.
The cases reflect a broader pattern of Iranian authorities using the death penalty and rapid trials to intimidate protestors and suppress dissent. Many of the defendants were detained shortly after participating in protests, denied access to effective legal representation, and subjected to torture or other ill-treatment to extract self-incriminating statements. International human rights law strictly prohibits executing anyone under 18 at the time of the alleged offence, yet minors remain on death row.
Amnesty International urges coordinated international action to pressure Iran to end these practices, call for fair trials, and provide access for UN representatives and embassy observers. The organization also advocates for UN member states to pursue comprehensive justice measures, including potential referrals to the International Criminal Court and extraterritorial investigations where applicable.
Since the Woman Life Freedom uprising of 2022, Iranian authorities have increasingly used the death penalty to instill fear, punish dissent, and target marginalized communities, with 2025 marking the highest number of executions in the country since 1989. Amnesty International emphasizes that the death penalty is a violation of the right to life and is always cruel, inhuman, and degrading.
