Iranian authorities executed three men arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests this week, while additional executions were reported in prisons across the country. The executions of Hassan Divband, Hamid Kazemi and Reza Zanganeh on November 8 were confirmed by Iran’s judiciary, amid allegations of torture, coerced confessions, and violations of fair-trial rights.
Iran’s judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency announced that the three men had been executed after the Supreme Court upheld their death sentences. They were convicted on charges including moharebeh, or “waging war against God,” and involvement in attacks allegedly carried out on behalf of Israel, the United States, and hostile organizations during the January protests in Karaj, west of Tehran.
According to the judiciary, the defendants participated in armed attacks, damaged public infrastructure, and set fire to facilities, including an electricity substation. Authorities also ordered the confiscation of their assets. Human rights organizations, however, raised serious concerns about the judicial proceedings, reporting allegations of torture, forced confessions and restrictions on access to independent legal counsel.
Reza Zanganeh, 27, was an automobile technician originally from the Malayer area who lived in Malard, west of Tehran. According to Hengaw, he was arrested in April 2026 and accused of cooperation with Israeli intelligence, allegations that have not been independently substantiated. The organization also reported that Hassan Divband and Hamid Kazemi had been subjected to severe pressure during detention, including alleged torture and mock executions.
A growing number of people have been executed in connection with the January protests. Iran Human Rights reported that at least 39 people had been executed in protest-related cases since March 19, while Hengaw documented 40. These figures reflect independently compiled monitoring records rather than an official nationwide accounting.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over prisoners who remain under death sentences. On November 11, Hengaw reported that 15 detainees from the January protests, including two women, were facing execution in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison, citing allegations of forced confessions, torture, and denial of access to chosen lawyers. Additional death sentences have also been reported against detainees arrested in connection with protests in Isfahan and Ahvaz.
Opposition to executions has continued inside Iranian prisons. The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, organized by prisoners and their supporters across dozens of facilities, continued its weekly protests against capital punishment, warning that more prisoners could face imminent execution.
The latest cases highlight continuing concerns about the use of capital punishment, particularly in security-related prosecutions where allegations of torture and violations of due process remain unresolved. The lack of comprehensive official reporting also makes it difficult to establish the full scale of executions nationwide.