Iran continues use of death penalty for political prisoners

Iran continues to utilize capital punishment against political prisoners, with recent cases highlighting ongoing human rights concerns. Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 68-year-old electrical engineer, has been sentenced to death by the Rasht Revolutionary Court on charges of ‘baghi’ (armed rebellion) following alleged links to the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Reports indicate she was denied access to chosen counsel and faced pressure during interrogation.

In a separate case, Shahram Sadeghi was executed in Karaj after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence for an incident involving police officers during anti-government protests in January 2026. These executions occur as the country marks the 38th anniversary of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. A United Nations report previously concluded that the 1988 killings amounted to crimes against humanity and were carried out with genocidal intent.