Two more political prisoners executed in Iran
Iran’s judiciary said two political prisoners were executed on Saturday after their death sentences were upheld, in the latest use of capital punishment in security-related cases.
Iran’s judiciary said two political prisoners were executed on Saturday after their death sentences were upheld, in the latest use of capital punishment in security-related cases.
“Abolhassan Montazer and Vahid Bani-Amerian were executed on April 4,” judiciary outlet Mizan wrote, describing them as “terrorists” and listing charges including “armed rebellion,” membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) opposition group and plotting attacks using rocket launchers.
The report said the two were arrested while allegedly preparing to carry out an attack and that the court relied on what it described as confessions and evidence.
Charges and prior sentences
Mizan said Montazer was an “organizational member” of the MEK involved in armed activities, including preparing safe houses used to build launchers and improvised explosives.
Bani-Amerian was accused of conducting propaganda activities in support of the group and taking part in operations targeting various locations.
Both men were sentenced to death in December 2024 by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court under Judge Iman Afshari, alongside four others.
The Islamic Republic had already executed four of those co-defendants – Akbar Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi on March 30, and Pouya Ghobadi Boostani and Babak Alipour on March 31 – on similar charges.
Rising executions and concerns
The latest executions come amid a broader increase in capital punishment tied to protest-related and security cases.
Authorities have also executed Amirhossein Hatami on April 2, as well as Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi on March 18, all detained during January protests.
On March 17, the Islamic Republic also carried out the execution of Iranian-Swedish dual national Kourosh Keyvani on espionage charges.
Rights groups have warned that thousands of detainees could face similar risks, citing an intensified crackdown that has expanded the use of charges such as “terrorism” against protesters.
The recent wave of executions underscores the continued reliance on capital punishment in Iran’s handling of political dissent, even as broader internal and external pressures persist.
