For Iran, execution is not merely a legal punishment; it is a primary language through which the state communicates with its people—one of intimidation, aimed at crushing a nation seeking freedom. For the regime, executions function like oxygen for a system facing the threat of popular uprising and internal dissent.
Amid ongoing war, nine political prisoners have reportedly been executed. Among them were six members of the MEK/PMOI, alongside three young protesters from the January 2026 uprising, including two teenagers. These executions appear to exploit wartime conditions and a near-total internet blackout to suppress dissent, control information, and silence the voices of the Iranian people.
Statements by senior officials reinforce this intent. Ayatollah Mohammadi Laeini emphasized the continuation of war, rejecting any discussion of ceasefire or negotiation, while other officials framed unrest in the streets as a more critical threat than external conflict. Such rhetoric underscores that the regime’s primary concern is not the external war, but the containment of internal opposition.
The scale and pace of executions are deeply alarming. While 17 political executions were recorded in all of 2025, at least 13 have taken place within just 18 days since March 19, 2026—nearly one every day and a half. With 16 executions already recorded in early 2026, the current trajectory nearly matches the total for the previous year. This sharp escalation amounts to what can be described as a political purge carried out under the cover of war.
Authorities have also withheld bodies and concealed burial sites, practices that may constitute enforced disappearance and psychological torture. By denying families the right to mourn or hold burial rites, the state imposes prolonged and compounded suffering. This deliberate ambiguity surrounding the fate of victims creates lasting trauma for families and violates fundamental human rights protections, including Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
