Iran carries out executions of protest detainees amid 40‑day war

The Iranian judiciary publicly executed two protest detainees, Abolfazl Sepahibadjani and Amirhossein Safri‑Hoseinabadi, who had been arrested during the nationwide demonstrations of 4‑4. The executions are part of a broader pattern since the start of the 40‑day conflict with Israel and the United States on 9 March 2024, during which at least 50 political and security‑related prisoners have been put to death. Dozens of other protesters remain under serious charges that could also lead to death sentences.

Human‑rights observers note that the government is using systematic death‑penalty rulings and lengthy imprisonments as a tactic to deter further dissent, echoing repression tactics from the 1960s. The crackdown follows mass arrests and accusations of espionage or collaboration with enemies, raising concerns about due‑process violations and the growing instability of the regime amid internal unrest and external war pressures.