Executions of Political Prisoners in Iran Intensify Amid Mounting Human Rights Concerns
Iran’s judiciary has carried out a new wave of executions of individuals accused of affiliation with opposition groups, raising renewed alarm among human rights organizations over due process violations and the increasing use of capital punishment in politically sensitive cases.
According to official announcements, Akbar Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghi Sangdehi were executed on March 30, followed by the execution of two additional individuals, Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, on the morning of March 31. These four individuals were reportedly part of a six-defendant پرونده (case) involving alleged links to the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), all of whom had previously faced death sentences.
Iran’s judiciary-affiliated outlet, Mizan News Agency, stated that Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi were accused of carrying out attacks on sensitive state sites using launcher-type weapons. According to the report, Alipour allegedly traveled from Gilan to Tehran and fired four launchers at a government-affiliated building, including an attack targeting the entrance of the Ministry of Intelligence, alongside co-defendants including Daneshvarkar. Authorities claimed that only two of the launchers functioned.
Mizan further reported that Pouya Ghobadi was arrested in a “team house” while assembling components of explosive devices, and was also detained in a separate incident while allegedly attempting to leave the country illegally across the border from Mahabad. Judicial authorities stated that all appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court, and the sentences were upheld and carried out.
According to the Mujahedin-e Khalq, Pouya Ghobadi, a 33-year-old electrical engineer, was arrested in March 2024 and transferred to Evin Prison, having previously been detained twice. Babak Alipour, a 34-year-old law graduate, was arrested in January 2024 and had previously served four years in prison following a 2018 arrest in Rasht.
These executions follow longstanding concerns raised by international human rights bodies. Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, had previously called for a halt to the executions of defendants in this case. In a letter dated September 5, 2025, she warned that the accused had been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, including threats of execution and flogging, during interrogations in Evin Prison.
According to her findings, the convictions were “directly based on coerced confessions,” obtained after prolonged detention—up to 244 days in solitary confinement—without access to legal counsel or family contact. The trial proceedings, conducted in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, were described as brief and lacking fundamental fair trial guarantees.
Iranian authorities have maintained that the defendants were involved in organized operations against national security. They alleged that Mohammad Taghi Sangdehi acted as a network leader, providing safe houses and logistical support, while Daneshvarkar was accused of involvement in protests and developing methods of confrontation against security forces, with authorities claiming that explosive materials were discovered in properties linked to both individuals.
The broader case includes other defendants such as Vahid Bani Amerian and Seyed Abolhassan Montazer, who were also sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion (baghi)” through membership in opposition groups, as well as individuals who received lengthy prison sentences and internal exile.
Notably, Mohammad Taghi Sangdehi had previously been imprisoned in the 1980s and was re-arrested in December 2023 in Chaldoran before being transferred to Evin Prison. Meanwhile, Daneshvarkar’s family had actively campaigned against his execution, including participation in the “No to Executions” campaign.
The timing of these executions has drawn particular concern, as they coincide with heightened regional tensions amid the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Human rights advocates argue that the increase in executions may reflect a broader pattern of intensified domestic repression during periods of geopolitical crisis.
These concerns have been reinforced by recent statements from Iran’s judiciary leadership. Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has reiterated that individuals deemed “traitors to the nation” will face execution without leniency, signaling a hardline approach in politically charged cases.
The execution of four individuals within two days underscores what observers describe as a significant escalation in the use of capital punishment against political defendants, raising urgent questions about due process, judicial independence, and Iran’s compliance with international human rights obligations, particularly regarding the prohibition of torture and the right to a fair trial.