In February, Amnesty International launched an “urgent action” in response to executions and ongoing human rights violations in Iran. The organisation warned that 22 people, including two children, are at risk of execution following death sentences issued against them. It has also called for an immediate halt to executions, the release of detainees, clarification of the fate of disappeared individuals, and unrestricted access for inspections of detention facilities.

 

Amnesty International responded to questions from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) regarding recent developments in Iran.

 

What is known about internet blackouts, executions, and human rights violations in Iran?

 

Iranian authorities are implementing a harsh crackdown supported by extensive and multi-layered security measures aimed at suppressing dissent, silencing opposition, and instilling fear across society. The protests that began on 28 December 2025 marked the largest nationwide demonstrations since the 2022 “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî (Woman, Life, Freedom)” movement. The nationwide internet blackout imposed on 8 January 2026 has been one of the key tools used to suppress peaceful protests.

 

Authorities have used internet shutdowns to conceal the scale of serious human rights violations—including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and possible crimes under international law. By cutting off digital communication, they are preventing people inside the country from accessing or sharing information with the outside world. These disruptions also make it more difficult to document abuses by security forces, including unlawful killings, and further entrench a climate of impunity. State officials and state media have labelled protesters and dissidents as “internal enemies,” “neo-ISIS members,” and “terrorists,” while issuing open threats against anyone expressing dissent.

 

Amnesty International’s report published on 28 April, "Iran: Trapped between unlawful attacks by the USA/Israel and internal deadly repression – People in Iran face dual atrocity risks", documents how, following US and Israeli attacks, armed security forces using motorcycles and pickup trucks equipped with machine guns have been deployed across residential areas, main streets, and public squares. According to the report, these forces are suppressing any behaviour perceived as opposition to the Islamic Republic while openly signalling their readiness to use lethal force. At the centre of Iran’s repressive apparatus is the systematic use of the death penalty as a tool of intimidation and political control.

 

In 2025, Iran recorded one of the highest numbers of executions in decades. Since the 2022 “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” uprising, the death penalty has increasingly been used as a mechanism of political repression. Protesters and government critics have been sentenced to death following expedited trials marked by serious procedural violations.

 

Amnesty International has launched a global Urgent Action campaign, including a petition addressed to the Head of Iran’s Judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, calling for an immediate halt to executions. The organisation is demanding the suspension of all planned executions, the quashing of death sentences, and an end to grossly unfair trials tainted by torture. It is also urging UN member states to refer the situation in Iran to international accountability mechanisms and to ensure independent observers are granted access to detention centres.

 

What do you know about executions in Iran?

 

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and has campaigned globally for its abolition for decades. Through its annual Death Sentences and Executions reports, the organisation documents global execution trends. These reports consistently show that Iran remains among the world’s leading executioners.

 

In Iran, the death penalty is not only part of the criminal justice system but also a political instrument used to instil fear and suppress dissent. By September 2025, Iranian authorities had executed more than 1,000 people, surpassing the 972 recorded in 2024. The pace of executions accelerated significantly following Israel’s 12-day offensive against Iran in June 2025, reaching levels not seen since 1989.

 

Since the unlawful US and Israeli attacks on 28 February 2026, authorities have arbitrarily executed at least 21 individuals convicted in politically motivated cases following grossly unfair trials. Among them were nine protesters, nine opposition figures, and three individuals accused of “armed rebellion against the state” or “espionage on behalf of the US or Israel.” Senior officials have recently issued statements equating dissent with support for “the enemy” and have openly threatened mass killings of those expressing opposition or advocating peacefully for political change.

 

In 13 documented cases, Amnesty International found that individuals were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention prior to execution, including beatings, flogging, prolonged solitary confinement, and death threats. Convictions were based on forced “confessions” obtained under duress in trials lasting only a few hours. The organisation relies on a rigorous verification methodology, including interviews with families and lawyers, court documents, local human rights networks, open-source research, media monitoring, and reliable field sources. In contexts such as Iran, where transparency is extremely limited, such independent verification is essential. As a result, documented figures likely represent only a fraction of the true scale of violations.

 

How do you explain the silence surrounding these violations?

 

The lack of international response to grave human rights violations in Iran reflects a broader global pattern. We are witnessing a period in which powerful states, corporations, and anti-rights movements are undermining multilateralism, international law, and human rights protections. Instead of consistently defending human rights, many states act according to political calculations, prioritising strategic alliances, security interests, or economic gains. As a result, responses to violations in Iran are often muted or inconsistent.

 

This double standard is also evident in other crises, including Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. The European Union and several European states have failed to take meaningful action to stop violations of international law or the transfer of arms and technology contributing to international crimes. Such silence is dangerous. It emboldens authorities responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, unlawful killings, and the death penalty. The international community must therefore explicitly condemn violations in Iran, support independent investigations, press for an end to executions, and demonstrate meaningful solidarity with the Iranian people.

 

What factors drive the scale of violations in Iran?

 

At the root of systemic human rights violations in Iran lies a constitutional and political structure that entrenches impunity and discrimination, limiting access to justice and effective remedies. This system grants broad, unchecked powers to state authorities while rendering accountability mechanisms largely ineffective. As a result, arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, and the use of the death penalty as a tool of political repression have become systemic practices.

 

The lack of judicial independence further exacerbates the situation, with courts often functioning as instruments of punishment rather than justice. Expedited trials, coerced confessions, and politically motivated death sentences are among the most striking examples.

 

What challenges do you face in reaching the public?

 

One of the greatest challenges is the widespread use of internet blackouts, digital censorship, and mass surveillance. Since 28 February, Iranian authorities have cut off over 90 million people from the outside world, severely restricting access to information and communication with loved ones. This also makes it significantly harder to document violations and amplify victims’ voices. Fear of reprisals, the targeting of families, restrictions on independent journalism, and the criminalisation of human rights defenders further limit access to reliable information. As a result, publicly available data represents only verified cases, meaning the true scale of violations is likely far greater.

 

What responsibilities do human rights organisations and defenders have?

 

The persistence of silence is driven by geopolitical interests, double standards, and a growing reluctance by states to uphold international norms consistently. Rather than prioritising human rights, many governments focus on strategic or economic considerations. In this context, a principled response to violations in Iran is often absent. 

 

The international community must act urgently to break this silence by demanding the restoration of internet access, an end to arbitrary detentions, and an immediate halt to executions. It must also ensure accountability for all violations of international law, including unlawful attacks and crimes committed against civilians. Human rights defenders and organisations have a crucial responsibility to continue documenting abuses, amplifying victims’ voices, and building global solidarity against impunity.

 

MA / Ceylan Sahinli