13 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 7
Yaghoub Karimpour, 43, and Nasser Bakerzadeh, 26, were hanged on Saturday, and Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, 28, on Sunday at Orumiyeh Central Prison.
Rights groups said the men described torture, coerced confessions and denial of lawyers; two were accused of spying for Israel and one over a 2022 protest-related killing.
Families were reportedly denied final visits, bodies and memorial ceremonies, while the Kurdistan Human Rights Network said the executions were meant to intimidate Iranians and deter protest.
With its own Supreme Court questioning evidence, is Iran's judiciary just an extension of its security forces?
How are internal executions being used as a weapon in Iran's conflict with Israel and the United States?
Amidst war and record executions, can Iran's new leader consolidate power without relying on state terror?
Iran’s 2026 Crackdown: Over 2,800 Executions Amid Unfair Trials and Torture
Overview
In early 2026, widespread protests in Iran led to the killing of two police officers, prompting the arrest and torture of young protesters like Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi. They were forced to confess under brutal conditions and faced unfair trials, resulting in their public execution in March. This was part of a broader, state-driven escalation using the death penalty and the charge of moharebeh to suppress dissent rapidly and harshly. The ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict provided a pretext for mass arrests, worsening prison conditions, and intensified repression. Despite these efforts, public anger grew, sparking prison protests and international condemnation, with calls for accountability through legal and diplomatic channels.