Iran executes three over protest-linked killings amid unrest crackdown
Dubai – Iran executed three men on Thursday after the Supreme Court upheld their convictions for killing two police officers during unrest earlier this year, state media reported, with authorities saying the men had also been found guilty of “Moharebeh” (waging war against God).
The executions were carried out in the religious city of Qom, the judiciary said, adding that the men had taken part in attacks using knives and other weapons during protests on January 8 that resulted in the deaths of two police officers.
Officials said the defendants were convicted of murder and of carrying out acts in favour of Israel and the United States, allegations Tehran has repeatedly raised in connection with the wave of nationwide protests earlier this year.
According to the judiciary, the three men were directly involved in violent incidents during demonstrations that authorities say turned deadly in several locations. The January 8 unrest forms part of a broader period of protests that Iranian officials have described as among the most significant challenges to the Islamic Republic in recent years.
State media said the convictions were reviewed and upheld by the Supreme Court prior to the executions.
Iranian authorities have consistently accused foreign adversaries, including Israel and the United States, of instigating or supporting the unrest, though no independent evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate those claims.
Tehran has framed the protests as a coordinated effort to destabilise the state, while maintaining that its security response was necessary to restore order.
The executions come amid a broader crackdown on dissent following months of nationwide unrest, which officials have described as the largest in the country’s history. Security forces have detained numerous individuals and pursued prosecutions tied to protest-related violence.
Human rights groups have criticised Iran’s use of capital punishment in cases linked to demonstrations, though authorities maintain that the sentences were issued following due legal process.
