Iran just executed two more men. The official word from the judiciary’s Mizan news agency is that they were "terrorists" who attacked a government building with launcher weapons. But if you've been following the news out of Tehran lately, you know there’s almost always a second story hidden behind the state-sanctioned script.
These latest executions aren't isolated incidents. They’re part of a massive, brutal spike in state killings that’s reached levels we haven't seen in decades. While the government points to "national security" and "armed rebellion," human rights groups point to forced confessions and a desperate regime trying to hang onto power through sheer terror.
The official story vs. the reality on the ground
The two men executed on March 31, 2026, were accused of being members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). According to the judiciary, they didn't just talk about dissent; they acted on it by firing heavy weaponry at a government office.
But here’s where things get murky. In Iran’s legal system, the line between an "armed attacker" and a "political protester" is paper-thin. We’ve seen this play out before. Just two weeks ago, on March 19, the state hanged three young men—Saleh Mohammadi, Saeed Davoudi, and Mehdi Ghasemi—in the city of Qom. One of them, Mohammadi, was a 19-year-old wrestler. His crime? Allegedly killing a policeman during the January protests.
He told the court his "confession" was beaten out of him. He even showed the judge his fractured hands. The court didn't care. They hanged him anyway, right at the spot where the alleged crime happened. This is what the Iranian judiciary calls "qisas"—retribution-in-kind. To the rest of the world, it looks like state-sanctioned murder.
A record breaking year for the gallows
If you think the pace of these executions feels faster, you're right. The numbers coming out of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 are staggering.
- February 2026: At least 307 people were executed. That’s four times the amount from the same month last year.
- January 2026: Over 340 people were sent to the gallows.
- The 2025 Total: Reports suggest over 2,000 people were executed last year, the highest since the bloody 1980s.
Why the sudden rush? It's not just about "crime." It's about a regime that feels the ground shifting beneath its feet. Since the massive protests began in late 2025, the government has responded with what Amnesty International calls an "unprecedented deadly crackdown." When the streets got too crowded to control with bullets, the regime moved the fight to the courtroom.
The charges they use to kill
In Iran, you don't need a murder conviction to face the noose. The legal code includes broad, religiously-charged crimes that are basically catch-alls for any behavior the state doesn't like.
- Moharebeh: This translates to "waging war against God." It's used for anyone accused of using a weapon to create fear or attacking the state.
- Efsad-fel-Arz: "Corruption on Earth." This is even broader and has been used against everyone from political activists to people accused of financial crimes.
- Espionage: Lately, this has been the go-to for dual nationals. Kourosh Keyvani, a Swedish-Iranian citizen, was executed just this month on charges of spying for Israel.
The process is almost always the same. An arrest happens during a protest or a raid. The prisoner is held incommunicado—no lawyer, no family. A "confession" is recorded, often after weeks of torture. Then, a short trial in a Revolutionary Court where the judge is often more of a prosecutor than an impartial arbiter. By the time the public hears about the case, the execution is already scheduled.
The strategy of public terror
It’s not just that they’re killing people; it’s how they’re doing it. Public hangings are back. Executing a teenage athlete like Saleh Mohammadi in front of a crowd isn't about "justice." It's a message. It says: "This is what happens if you step out of line."
The regime is currently dealing with multiple fires. They’re facing the fallout of a brief but intense conflict with Israel and the U.S. (the "12-day war" in 2025), a crumbling economy, and a population that’s lost its fear. When a government can't provide bread or security, it provides the gallows.
What you can actually do
Watching this from the outside feels helpless, but there are ways to put pressure on the gears of this "execution machine."
- Support the Fact-Finders: Organizations like Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) are the only ones getting real data out. They need resources to keep the world's eyes on these courtrooms.
- Push for Universal Jurisdiction: International lawyers are currently working to bring charges against high-ranking Iranian officials in European courts. This is the "Nuremberg" approach for modern atrocities.
- Pressure for Diplomatic Freezes: It’s hard to talk trade and nuclear deals while the other side is hanging protesters in the streets. Demand that your representatives make human rights a non-negotiable part of any engagement with Tehran.
The news of these two men in Tehran is just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands more sitting in Evin and Rajai Shahr prisons right now, waiting for a dawn they might not see. Don't let the "official" judiciary news be the only story people hear.
