At Least 77 Executed in October; 691 Executions Recorded in 2026

Nov. 3, 2026, 8:07 a.m.

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 3 November 2026: At least 77 people were executed in October 2026, including 39 for murder, 31 for drug-related offences, 6 for security-related charges and one for rape. Among those executed were two Afghan nationals, 10 Baluch, 2 Kurdish and one Arab minority. Three protesters arrested in connection with the January nationwide protests, two political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups and an Iraqi national convicted of espionage were also among those executed. Among those executed on murder charges, investigations by IHRNGO reveal three cases in which men were executed for deaths provoked by police violence, whilst evidence of police misconduct was ignored or concealed by the authorities.

In the first ten months of 2026, IHRNGO has recorded 691 executions, including three men who were under the age of 18 at the time of arrest, 23women, 28 foreign nationals and 123 ethnic minorities. The 2026 executions also include 36 protesters (34 from the January protests and two from “Woman, Life, Freedom”), 15 political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups and 17 espionage defendants.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the organisation, stated: “Alongside the weekly execution of political prisoners and people convicted of national security offences, executions for other charges continue on a daily basis. What they have in common is the systematic denial of due process and fair trial rights. The Islamic Republic uses the death penalty not only to silence dissent, but also to cover up abuses by its own security forces. Our investigations reveal cases in which people were executed for deaths caused by police violence, while those responsible escaped accountability. With at least 691 executions recorded this year, including dozens of protesters and political prisoners, the international community must act to stop these state killings.”

According to data verified by Iran Human Rights, the Islamic Republic of Iran executed at least 77 people in October, bringing the total number of executions recorded in the first ten months of 2026 to at least 691. IHRNGO has also received reports of more than 500 additional executions that have not been verified and are therefore not included in these statistics. The organisation only includes execution cases that include sufficient documentation, or are confirmed by two independent sources.

 

October 2026 Executions at a Glance:

 

2026 Executions

At least 691 executions were recorded between 1 January and 31 October 2026. Of the 691 executions, 353 were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder (including four protesters), 244 were on death row for drug-related offences, 81 were executed on security-related charges, 12 for rape charges and the charges against one woman remain unknown. Of those executed on security-related charges, 32 were protesters, 15 were political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups, 17 were accused of espionage and/or collaboration with foreign states, nine were convicted of armed robbery, four were accused of affiliation with ISIS and four cases are unknown. Of the recorded executions, only 100 or 14.5% were announced by official sources, while the remaining 591 executions were verified through two independent sources by IHRNGO.

Amongst those executed were 3 men who were under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged offences, 23 women, 64 Baluch, 44 Kurd and 15 Arab ethnic minorities, as well as at least 25 Afghan and 3 Iraqi nationals. Two of the executions were carried out in public spaces.

 

Covering Up Brutality: Executions for Fatalities Provoked by Police Violence

Between 30 September and 12 October, authorities reported the execution of three men for the intentional killing of three police officers. However, evidence, court records and testimonies obtained by IHRNGO reveal that none of these deaths were premeditated acts, but fatal incidents provoked and escalated by police violence, from reckless gunfire on civilian cars to assaulting a man in the midst of a severe manic episode. Rather than holding officers accountable, the judiciary covered up the circumstances and executed the men under the guise of intentional murder.

 

Jaber Khosravi: Severely ill man secretly hanged after psychiatric crisis turned fatal under police assault

Jaber Khosravi, a 43-year-old man from Damghan, was arrested on 2 September 2022 following the death of a police officer struck by an inadvertently fired warning shot. While state media ultimately framed the incident as a deliberate disarming and intentional murder, medical records and independent testimonies obtained by IHRNGO reveal that Jaber was suffering from a severe bipolar and psychotic episode at the time. During an emergency hospital response, police officers mocked his condition, pepper-sprayed him, and physically assaulted him on an unhealed surgical wound. Severely disoriented, bleeding, and oblivious to his actions, Jaber grabbed a fallen firearm and discharged a warning shot into the air, which unintentionally struck the officer. Despite official medical documents proving his long-standing mental illness and lack of criminal responsibility under Iranian law, authorities dismissed his condition. Jaber was sentenced to qisas for murder by Branch 2 of Semnan Province Criminal Court One. He was secretly hanged in Damghan Prison on 30 September 2026, without prior notice to his family.

 

Danial Jahanian: Hanged for fatal crash caused by police gunfire despite evidence of cover-up

Danial Jahanian, a 37-year-old man from Yazd, was arrested in relation to the death of a policeman in a traffic accident caused by police violence. State media framed the 16 May 2022 incident as an intentional ramming attack by fuel smugglers. However, court documents, expert reports and other evidence obtained by IHRNGO demonstrate that plainclothes officers opened fire head-on through Danial's car bonnet, shooting him in both legs and causing him to lose consciousness prior to the collision. Furthermore, forensic medical findings establish that the officer died from brain tissue crushing caused by a secondary Mercedes-Benz vehicle running over him on the road, an element police authorities actively attempted to cover up through white-out document tampering. Danial was sentenced to qisas by Branch 1 of Criminal Court One and hanged in Bandarabbas Central Prison on 11 October 2026.

 

Abolhassan Ranjbar: Baluch man hanged for accident provoked by police violence

Abolhassan Ranjbar was a 39-year-old Baluch man from Minab who was arrested in December 2023. While state media framed his case as a premeditated vehicular assault carried out by an organised smuggling escort, independent testimonies obtained by IHRNGO reveal that the fatal collision was an accident provoked by police violence during a routine stop, with authorities subsequently fabricating contraband charges and relying on false witness testimony to convict him. Abolhassan was sentenced to qisas for murder by Criminal Court One of Hormozgan province. He was hanged in Minab Prison on 12 October 2026.