The Iranian government has reportedly carried out the secret executions of four individuals in recent days, raising alarm among international human rights organizations and intensifying fears for the lives of at least seven other protesters and dissidents currently facing imminent execution. The escalating use of the death penalty comes amidst ongoing regional tensions and a crackdown on dissent following the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, and underscores a disturbing trend of arbitrary justice within the Islamic Republic. Concerns are mounting that these executions represent a deliberate attempt to quell opposition and instill fear, even as the country navigates a complex geopolitical landscape.
Amnesty International has condemned the executions as “unconscionable,” particularly given the context of ongoing conflict in the region. The organization reports that Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi were executed earlier this morning, following the secret executions of Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi yesterday. Families of the executed were reportedly not informed in advance and, in at least three cases, have been denied the return of their loved ones’ bodies, compounding their grief. This pattern of secrecy and denial of basic rights is a hallmark of the Iranian justice system, critics say.
Escalating Crackdown and Torture Allegations
The seven individuals now at immediate risk – Vahid Bani Amerian, Abolhassan Montazer, Mohammad Amin Biglari, Ali Fahim, Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, Amirhossein Hatami, and Shahin Vahedparast Kolo – are being held in Ghezel Hesar prison, Alborz province. Amnesty International is urgently calling on Iranian authorities to halt any plans for their execution. All eleven men – the seven at risk and the four recently executed – have alleged they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in detention, including beatings, floggings, prolonged solitary confinement, and death threats. These allegations, if substantiated, would further invalidate the fairness of their trials.
The cases stem from two separate legal proceedings. Vahid Bani Amerian, Abolhassan Montazer, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi were sentenced to death in October 2024 by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran after being convicted of “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi) – a charge linked to alleged affiliation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), a banned opposition group. All six men consistently denied these accusations. The other five individuals – Biglari, Fahim, Salehi Siavashani, Hatami, and Vahedparast Kolo – were sentenced to death for allegedly setting a Basij base on fire in Tehran, a charge stemming from protests in January 2026.
Transfer to Isolation Fuels Fears
Adding to the urgency, authorities transferred the five protesters – Biglari, Fahim, Salehi Siavashani, Hatami, and Vahedparast Kolo – from Ghezel Hesar to an unidentified location this morning, sparking immediate fears of imminent execution. This move followed a similar transfer of Bani Amerian, Montazer, and 14 other dissidents on March 30th, coupled with a complete communications blackout within Section 4 of Ghezel Hesar prison, where these individuals were held. The deliberate cutting of phone lines has effectively rendered them incommunicado, preventing any contact with family or legal counsel.
Mohammad Amin Biglari’s case is particularly concerning. According to sources, he was forcibly disappeared for weeks before being moved to Ghezel Hesar. He was denied access to a lawyer during the initial investigation and was assigned a state-appointed lawyer who, sources say, failed to adequately represent his interests. His family’s attempts to secure independent legal representation were also blocked, hindering his ability to appeal the verdict.
A Pattern of Unfair Trials and Executions
These recent executions are part of a broader pattern of escalating state-sponsored violence and repression in Iran. Since the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, Iranian authorities have dramatically increased the use of the death penalty, carrying out executions following what Amnesty International and other rights groups describe as grossly unfair trials. The pace of executions has accelerated following the 12-day war in 2025 and has reached a scale not seen in over four decades.
Prior to the recent executions, four other men – Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi – were executed on March 19, 2026, in connection with the January 2026 protests. Kouroush Keyvani was also reportedly executed on espionage-related charges on March 18, 2026. Saleh Mohammadi’s case highlights the reliance on coerced confessions; he retracted his statements in court, claiming they were obtained through torture, but the court dismissed his claims without investigation.
The international community is facing increasing pressure to respond to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. Amnesty International is calling on all states to urgently press Iranian authorities to halt all executions and establish a moratorium with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
As of today, April 1st, 2026, there is no confirmed information regarding the whereabouts or status of Vahid Bani Amerian and Abolhassan Montazer. Families continue to seek information, but authorities remain silent. The next critical development will likely be an announcement from the Iranian government regarding the fate of these individuals, or a potential communication from their legal representatives – if they are permitted access.
This is a developing story. Share your thoughts and concerns in the comments below.
