Iran executed two men on Monday after they were convicted of setting fire to a mosque in Tehran during protests that erupted in late 2025 and early 2026, according to the judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency. The executions come as Amnesty International reports a sharp escalation in political executions and mass arrests since the war began in February.
Mehrdad Mohammadi-Nia and Ashkan Maleki were hanged after Iran's Supreme Court upheld their sentences. Authorities accused them of being among the main perpetrators of an attack on the Jafari Mosque in Tehran's Gisha neighbourhood. The judiciary stated the two were convicted of arson, damaging public property, clashing with security forces, blocking roads, and activities against national security. Their assets were also confiscated. The specific capital charge under which they were sentenced was not disclosed.
Protests and Crackdown
The protests began in late December 2025 after the collapse of Iran's currency, the rial, and quickly spread to nearly all Iranian cities. Security forces killed thousands during a crackdown on 8 and 9 January. Iran's Supreme Council of National Security acknowledged a death toll of more than 3,000. The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran put the figure at a minimum of 5,000, while humanitarian groups and insiders estimate the death toll may have reached as many as 42,000. The Islamic Republic imposed a strict internet blackout on 8 January, making independent verification nearly impossible.
Amnesty International, in a report published last Thursday, said Iranian authorities had arrested more than 6,000 people since the start of the war — including protesters, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders. The organisation documented enforced disappearances, torture, forced confessions, and unfair trials. It said at least 39 political executions had been carried out during the same period, covering both the protests and the war. Iran's overall execution rate is far higher: Amnesty's most recent annual report recorded at least 2,159 executions in Iran in 2025 — the highest for any country and the majority of 2,700 executions documented worldwide that year.
Human rights organisations have also raised concerns about the treatment of detainees arrested during the January protests, many of whom continue to face political and security-related charges. The executions and arrests are part of a broader crackdown that has drawn international condemnation, including from European capitals. The European Union has repeatedly called for restraint and respect for human rights in Iran, but has struggled to translate that into effective action.
For European readers, the situation in Iran resonates with ongoing debates about the rule of law and human rights protections within the EU itself. The bloc's external action service has maintained sanctions on Iranian officials involved in human rights abuses, but critics argue these measures are insufficient. The executions also highlight the global dimension of the crackdown, as Iran's actions are closely watched by European governments concerned about stability in the Middle East and the impact on migration flows.
As the war continues, the Iranian regime shows no sign of easing its repression. The executions of Mohammadi-Nia and Maleki are a stark reminder of the human cost of the protests and the regime's determination to crush dissent. European policymakers will need to weigh their response carefully, balancing diplomatic engagement with the need to uphold fundamental rights.
