Iran has executed a foreign national convicted of taking part in anti-government protests in the central city of Isfahan in January, according to the judiciary's Mizan news agency. The man, identified as Qaim Hosseini, was also known by the alias “Arian.” His nationality was not disclosed.
Mizan reported that Hosseini had confessed to participating in the protests held on 8 January in Ali Khani Square, where authorities said four security personnel were killed. Following the incident, 59 people were arrested on charges related to the demonstrations.
Hosseini was reportedly carrying a “cold weapon” during the protests. According to Mizan, evidence and “explicit confessions” from other defendants indicated that he was actively present at the scene where security forces were killed and that he kicked the bodies of the dead officers. He was also accused of taking items from a charity organisation and setting them on fire.
The judiciary said Hosseini's trial was conducted with a lawyer present, and that the death sentence was reviewed and upheld by the Supreme Court after an appeal. However, human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about forced confessions in Iran, as well as restrictions on access to legal counsel and fair trial guarantees.
Rising execution rates spark alarm
Rights activists accuse Tehran of using the death penalty in protest-related cases to instil fear and suppress dissent. The execution of Hosseini follows the deaths of four other detainees in the same case: Abolfazl Sepahi, Amirhossein Safari, Erfan Esfandiari, and Golmohammad Mohammadi.
A report released this week by the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran stated that Tehran has executed at least 901 people since the beginning of 2026, including 28 in August alone. The UN Secretary-General's report to the General Assembly documented at least 975 executions in Iran in 2024, a 17% increase from the previous year and the highest annual figure since 2015. The report also noted a further sharp rise in the first half of 2025, with at least 612 executions between January and June, a 119% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
This latest execution underscores the international community's growing concern over Iran's use of capital punishment. The European Union has repeatedly condemned such practices, calling on Tehran to respect international human rights standards. The bloc has also imposed sanctions on Iranian officials involved in human rights abuses, including those linked to the crackdown on protests.
For European observers, the case highlights the broader challenges of engaging with Iran on human rights issues, even as diplomatic efforts continue on other fronts such as the nuclear programme. The execution also draws attention to the plight of foreign nationals in Iranian custody, raising questions about consular access and due process.
As the international community watches, rights groups urge European governments to maintain pressure on Tehran and to support mechanisms for accountability. The rising execution rate, they argue, is a clear indicator of the regime's determination to quell dissent through fear.
