IRAN EXECUTES TWO MEN OVER ALLEGED ROLES IN JANUARY PROTESTS

October 5, 2026

TEHRAN — Iran has executed two men who were arrested in connection with the protests that erupted across the country in January 2026, according to Iranian state media.

The two men were identified as individuals convicted over their alleged involvement in activities linked to the unrest. Iranian authorities said the executions followed judicial proceedings and the imposition of death sentences.

The January protests represented one of the most serious periods of domestic unrest in Iran in recent years, with demonstrations spreading across several parts of the country and prompting a major security response from the authorities.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said that some protesters were involved in violent or security-related activities and have pursued criminal cases against those accused of serious offences. Rights groups, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the use of capital punishment in cases arising from protest-related arrests.

The latest executions are likely to intensify international scrutiny of Iran’s treatment of people detained during the unrest. Human rights organisations have consistently called for greater transparency in judicial proceedings and safeguards for defendants facing severe sentences.

The executions underscore the continuing legal and political consequences of the January protests, months after the demonstrations themselves subsided. Further cases involving people arrested during the unrest could continue to draw attention as Iranian authorities pursue prosecutions connected to the events.