Iran executes 5 over Isfahan protests as UN reports 56 killed since March
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Iran has executed five people convicted in connection with January protests in Isfahan, including two in public. The UN reports at least 56 people have been executed for national security crimes since March 19, 2026, 27 of them protesters. The executions continue despite international condemnation and a US pledge to help protesters that never materialized.
Key Facts
- Iranian authorities sentenced 12 people to death in July and August 2026 in connection with the so-called 'Alikhani Square case' in Isfahan.
- Five people convicted in the case have been executed, two of them publicly.
- The UN reports at least 56 people have been executed for national security crimes since March 19, 2026, 27 of them protesters.
- Iranian authorities put the death toll from the protests at more than 3,100 people, while the US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) confirmed over 7,000 deaths.
- Protests began in December 2025 over economic hardship and grew into the largest anti-government demonstrations the Tehran regime has ever faced.
The Isfahan Executions
In July and August 2026, 12 people were sentenced to death in connection with the so-called 'Alikhani Square case' in Isfahan. Authorities claim that on January 8, demonstrators killed four security personnel at the square. Five people convicted in the case have been executed, two of them publicly. The executions were carried out despite international condemnation of the crackdown.
Scale of Repression
According to a UN report, at least 56 people have been executed for national security crimes since March 19, 2026, 27 of them protesters. Iranian authorities put the death toll from the protests at more than 3,100 people. Amnesty International says the true scale of repression is unknown due to internet shutdowns during the protests, and the actual death toll is likely much higher. The US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) confirmed over 7,000 deaths and investigated thousands more cases.
Protesters' Aftermath
Seven months after the protests were suppressed, many participants suffer from incurable physical injuries and are barred from working or studying. One protester, Masoud, was buried just days ago after months of suffering from wounds sustained during demonstrations near Tehran, his relatives said. DW sources, contacted through human rights activists, used pseudonyms for safety reasons.
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Iran executes 5 over Isfahan protests as UN reports 56 killed since March
