Iran Executes Afghan National Amid Heightened Crackdown on Protest-Related Convictions

Iran carried out the execution of an Afghan national on Thursday following a conviction related to the deaths of police officers during anti-government demonstrations. This marks the 30th execution since the escalation of regional conflict, according to human rights monitors.

The Iranian judiciary’s official website, Mizan Online, confirmed the execution of the individual, identified as Ghaem Hosseini, following his conviction for involvement in the deaths of four police officers. While the state media did not specify the defendant’s nationality, the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) identified the 21-year-old as an Afghan national who was hanged at the Isfahan central prison.

Official state reports claimed Hosseini was convicted for “drawing a weapon and causing fear and terror, creating widespread insecurity, acting against people’s physical integrity and national security in a manner that seriously disrupted public order.” However, IHR contested these findings, noting the defendant was accused of kicking an officer and asserting that authorities failed to present evidence directly linking his actions to the deaths of any police officers.

“This case is a stark example of collective punishment and the arbitrary use of the death penalty by the Islamic Republic,” stated Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHR.

Hosseini is the fifth individual executed in connection with the deaths of four policemen during the nationwide protests that intensified in January. He is also the second Afghan national to face execution in this specific case, following the hanging of Gol Mohammad Mohammadi in July. IHR reports that at least 12 defendants in this particular case have received death sentences.

Targeting Dissent

According to IHR, since the resumption of wartime executions on March 19, at least 30 protesters have been executed. This includes 28 individuals linked to the January protests and two linked to the “Woman. Life. Freedom.” movement that began in 2022. This represents an execution rate of more than one protester per week.

IHR further reports that hundreds of other protesters face death sentences or charges that carry the possibility of capital punishment, including more than 70 individuals in Isfahan, the central Iranian city that saw intense unrest in January.

The increasing frequency of executions in Iran has drawn significant international condemnation. Human rights organizations and various governments have accused Tehran of utilizing the death penalty as a tool of intimidation to suppress social unrest. While Amnesty International reported that Iran executed at least 2,159 people in 2025, current trends suggest an intensification of executions targeting protesters and political prisoners amidst the ongoing regional conflict.

Last week, more than 30 nations—including France, Britain, and Canada—condemned the use of capital punishment in Iran, accusing the government of using executions to silence political dissent.

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