Iran hangs two men for killing police during January protests
Iran publicly hanged Abdolfazl Sepahi‑Badjani and Amirhossein Safari‑Hosseinabadi on 28 July 2026 in Alikhani Square, Isfahan. The pair were convicted of killing four security force members during the nationwide anti‑government demonstrations on 8 January 2026.
The executions are part of a broader wave of death sentences linked to the January protests. United Nations experts said at least 24 people have been executed for protest‑related offences, while Human Rights Watch reported at least 50 executions in the past four months. Amnesty International warned that at least 60 others, including three sentenced as minors, remain at risk of execution.
Rights groups criticised the public nature of the hangings and the use of the death penalty to suppress dissent. The January protests were met with a severe crackdown, with thousands reported killed and tens of thousands arrested. Meanwhile, a “No to Execution Tuesdays” hunger strike involving roughly 1,500 prisoners across 59 prisons continues in Iran.
Entities: Abdolfazl Sepahi‑Badjani · Alikhani Square · Amirhossein Safari‑Hosseinabadi · Amnesty International · Islamic Republic of Iran
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The two men were convicted of killing four security force members in Alikhani Square, Isfahan, on 8 January 2026. (conviction details)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Around 1,500 prisoners in 59 prisons in Iran are on a “No to Execution Tuesdays” hunger strike. (campaign statement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The executions were carried out publicly in Alikhani Square, in the presence of a crowd. (description of execution site)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Iran publicly hanged Abdolfazl Sepahi‑Badjani and Amirhossein Safari‑Hosseinabadi on 28 July 2026. (execution of two men)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Human Rights Watch reported at least 50 executions in Iran over the past four months. (HRW report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The January anti‑government protests were met with a severe crackdown, resulting in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests. (reporting on protest crackdown)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Amnesty International warned that at least 60 people, including three minors, remain at risk of execution. (Amnesty International statement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] United Nations experts said at least 24 people have been executed for offences linked to the January protests. (UN expert panel statement)