Iran's latest execution wave is a warning the world can't ignore - opinion

Iran's latest wave of executions, reported by Iran Human Rights (IHR), signals that the world cannot afford to turn a blind eye. In the aftermath of US strikes, the regime has executed at least 47 political prisoners this year, a stark contrast to 16 during the same period last year.

Two brothers, Hadi and Fazlollah Nikbakht, are among those facing the death penalty. Sentenced to death in October 2025, they were arrested for attempting to prevent authorities from seizing their farmland. Hadi, 45, and Fazlollah, 50, are just two of the dozens of Iranians currently on death row for politically motivated crimes that would be deemed unjust in any Western country.

Hamid Mutashar, leader of the Ahwaz Liberal Party, expressed deep concern over the regime's accelerated execution spree. He described it as a desperate, criminal response to its impending collapse and a violent attempt to silence voices of liberty through terror. Mutashar specifically criticized the regime's labeling of innocent activists and freedom fighters as "agents of Israel," linking it to its deep-seated paranoia.

Other dissidents, including Shabnam Assadollahi and Ahmad Obali, have also voiced their outrage. Both emphasized the regime's continued use of fear as a weapon to preserve its grip on power and called for immediate international intervention to save the lives of those currently on death row. Assadollahi, a former political prisoner, revealed the extent of the regime's repression, alleging the killing of up to 100,000 people during the January 8-9 crackdown and the transportation of bodies to undisclosed facilities.