Iran has executed over 500 people so far this year after a new surge in hangings in recent days, despite U.S. President Donald Trump urging the Islamic republic to halt executions, a rights group said on Thursday (August 27, 2026).
Iranian state media this week announced the execution of Majid Adineh, arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests in Karaj outside Tehran while several others have been executed in the last days following convictions including murder and armed robbery.
At least 511 people have been executed so far in 2026, according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, including at least 29 people in connection with anti-government protests in January.
Mr. But authorities now appear to be intensifying executions of protesters and others deemed political prisoners during the conflict. Iran executed at least 2,159 people in 2025, according to Amnesty International.
At least 16 women are among those executed and at least 13 “political prisoners” affiliated with banned opposition groups, it said. Amiry-Moghaddam said that during the war the international community focused on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the conflict, giving “the authorities greater space to carry out executions of protesters, political prisoners, and others sentenced to death”.
