Iran ramps up execution of political prisoners amid war with US, human rights data shows
Iran Ramps Up Execution of Political Prisoners Amid War
Iran ramps up execution of political prisoners as human rights organizations document a sharp increase in capital punishment cases. The surge coincides with heightened military tensions between Tehran and Washington, creating conditions where the regime can act with less international scrutiny. This escalation represents a significant departure from previous years, with death sentences being carried out at an accelerated pace.
A Mother’s Plea
Niki Nikbakht lives in Osnabrück, Germany, where she keeps photographs of her imprisoned brothers close to her heart. Hadi and Fazlollah remain behind bars in Iran, their fates uncertain as executions continue. One image shows Hadi smiling while holding his two young sons, while his five-month-old daughter has never met her father. His imprisonment began before Niki was born, and he faces a death sentence under Iran’s Islamic Republic.
“I keep thinking, what if it really happens? What if I never get to see my two brothers again?”
Niki fights to maintain her strength during difficult moments. “But then I tell myself, ‘Niki, you have to keep going. Keep fighting. Stay strong. Don’t let this break you,'” she says with determination.
Recording the Deaths
Hadi, 45, and Fazlollah, 50, are among many political prisoners facing execution. The Iran Human Rights organization in Oslo has been tracking these cases systematically. This NGO, with members inside and outside Iran, claims the government has intensified executions while global attention focuses on the war.
On Wednesday, the group announced the execution of Mohammad Amini Dehaghani, who was detained for joining January demonstrations and sentenced to death in what rights advocates call an unfair trial. According to their data, Iran has executed at least 47 political prisoners this year, compared to just 16 during the same period last year.
From Streets to Battlefields
When protests spread across Iran late last year, President Donald Trump warned Tehran against using excessive force, pledging American support. Rather than easing pressure, the government escalated its response with deadly measures. While numbers vary, the Human Rights Activists News Agency in the United States has confirmed over 6,000 protester deaths, with 17,000 cases under investigation. Iran acknowledges more than 3,000 deaths but blames most on “rioters” in what it calls an Israeli-backed conspiracy.
Trump later claimed his warning and choice to avoid direct military action saved lives. As American and Israeli forces launched operations against Iran, he encouraged Iranians to “seize the moment” and take back their country. “America is with you. I made a promise to you, and I fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you, but we’ll be there to help,” he stated.
Peace Talks and Continued Crackdown
As the conflict deepened and economic effects spread worldwide, American language softened and support for Iranian opposition groups waned. The 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed between Washington and Tehran on June 17 mentioned neither protesters nor human rights issues. Meanwhile, rights groups observe that Iran had already begun increasing executions even during diplomatic talks with the United States.
“While the attention of the international community was on the war, the Iranian regime saw this as an opportunity to execute political prisoners because under normal circumstances these executions lead to international condemnation and they have a high political cost,”
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, shared this analysis with CNN. Each execution demonstrates the government’s firm grip on power and its unwillingness to accept dissent. The relative freedom the regime enjoys while the world watches for peace and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz provides little hope for people like Niki’s brothers.
The siblings were arrested before the major January demonstrations at their home in Golpaygan.
