Iran’s judiciary confirmed the execution of another detainee linked to recent protests, as the United Nations and human rights organisations report a sharp increase in executions and mass detentions since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February.
Sassan Azadvar Joonqani, a 21-year-old karate athlete from Isfahan province, was executed early Thursday morning at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, according to Iranian state media. He had been arrested on 8 January during nationwide protests and was initially held in solitary confinement.
A source close to the family told the news outlet Hrana that his funeral was held under tight security, with only ten relatives permitted to attend.
Legal Controversy and Torture Allegations
According to the judiciary-run Mizan news agency, Azadvar was convicted of moharebeh, or “enmity against God,” and “effective cooperation with the enemy.” He was accused of attacking a vehicle carrying security forces with stones and clubs, breaking windows, and throwing stones and bricks at officers. The report did not claim any casualties among security forces. Mizan also alleged that he attempted to prepare petrol to set a vehicle on fire, but did not succeed.
The judiciary claimed the trial was conducted with legal representation, but provided no further details on the proceedings. However, the lawyers’ platform Dadban said the charges did not meet the legal definition of “enmity against God” under Iranian law. Human rights group Hengaw described the case as marked by “serious legal ambiguities” and noted that the defendant’s lawyer maintained there was no credible evidence against him. Hengaw also alleged that Azadvar was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture during detention to force a confession.
His death sentence was issued during the escalation of the Iran war and was later upheld by the Supreme Court.
UN and Rights Groups Sound Alarm
The UN has reported at least 21 executions and more than 4,000 arrests since the start of the war, warning of an escalating use of capital punishment in the current security environment. Amnesty International said in a statement on Wednesday that it recorded at least 19 executions in recent weeks, and warned of enforced disappearances and torture.
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, recently stated that courts should process cases of detainees “outside normal procedures” and at a faster pace. He also declared that Tehran would not heed international calls to halt executions.
The execution comes as Tehran continues a series of capital punishments linked to protest-related and security cases. The broader context of rising geopolitical tensions and internal repression has drawn comparisons to other authoritarian regimes, though European policymakers have been cautious in their response. The European Union has repeatedly condemned the use of the death penalty in Iran, but concrete measures remain limited.
