Iran executions top 500 in 2026, rights group says

Iran has executed at least 511 people so far in 2026, including people linked to anti-government protests, Norway-based Iran Human Rights said on Thursday.

The rights group said at least 29 people were executed in connection with January protests. It said at least 16 women and at least 13 political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups were among those executed.

Iran Human Rights director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam told AFP that the executions had a domestic purpose: “to create fear and prevent new protests.” He said the group was concerned the trend could worsen in coming months.

The group said two people had also been executed since March 19 in connection with the “Woman. Life. Freedom.” protests that began in 2022.

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday that Iran was “killing protesters” and said the executions must stop. Amiry-Moghaddam welcomed the comments, saying greater attention raised the political cost for Iranian authorities.

Iran Human Rights says hundreds more protesters have been sentenced to death or face charges that could carry the death penalty, including more than 70 in Isfahan.

Amnesty International says Iran executed at least 2,159 people in 2025. More than 30 nations, including France, Britain and Canada, condemned Iran's use of capital punishment this month, saying Iran was executing protesters to “silence dissent.”

Iranian state media this week announced the execution of Majid Adineh, who was arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests in Karaj outside Tehran. Several others have been executed in recent days after convictions including murder and armed robbery.