Iran has carried out the executions of three men accused of leading armed unrest during the anti-government protests that took place in January. State media confirmed the deaths of Hassan Dioband, Hamid Kazemi, and Reza Zanganeh, who faced charges including the use of Molotov cocktails, grenades, firearms, and bladed weapons. The trio was also alleged to have set fire to public facilities in Karaj, a city located west of Tehran.
According to the state news agency Tasnim, the Supreme Court upheld the convictions of the three men. The court found them guilty of participating in operational activities on behalf of the Israeli Zionist regime, the United States, and other hostile groups. The alleged damage in Karaj included an electricity substation, which reportedly caused power outages in several local areas.
These executions are part of a broader series of judicial actions linked to the recent protest movement. The unrest initially began in December of last year, driven by the high cost of living, before rapidly expanding into widespread anti-government demonstrations. The protests reached their peak on January 8 and 9. Iranian authorities reported that more than 3,000 people died during the turmoil, attributing the violence to terrorist acts orchestrated by the US and Israel.
However, foreign-based non-governmental organizations have provided higher casualty figures. Additionally, the BBC received multiple accounts from Iranians stating that security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters during the demonstrations. The current wave of executions follows a pattern of increased judicial severity since US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic began in late February.
Hassan Dioband was arrested on January 11 after investigations identified him as a suspect in attacks on public property and incitement to violence. Ten other individuals accused of taking part in the unrest under Dioband's supervision were subsequently arrested. Reuters reported that these ten others received prison sentences ranging from five to ten years.
The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, has expressed alarm at the rising number of death penalties in Iran. In August, Türk stated that at least 56 people had been executed on national security-related charges since March 19. Among these, 27 executions were directly linked to the nationwide anti-government protests that occurred in January.
Iran is considered the second-most prolific executioner in the world, following only China. Amnesty International reported that the country put at least 2,159 people to death last year. This figure represents the highest number recorded since 1981. The organization noted that this total included 45 executions of suspected dissidents on national security-related charges.
The recent executions highlight the continued tension between the Iranian government and international human rights observers. While the state points to the involvement of foreign powers in the January unrest, critics argue that the judicial process has become a tool for suppressing dissent. The cases of Dioband, Kazemi, and Zanganeh serve as a focal point for these ongoing debates.
