Iran | At Least 141 Executions in 2026; IHRNGO Urges Immediate International Attention to Situation of Prisoners Amid War

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 2 March 2026: Three days into the war by the United States and Israel against Iran, prisoners are being subjected to additional restrictions while concerns have intensified regarding the risk of harm to prisoners as a result of military strikes or possible retaliatory actions by the authorities. In particular, the families of a number of detainees have expressed serious concern about the safety of their loved ones.

In addition, tens of thousands of protesters arrested in connection with the December 2025/January 2026 nationwide protests are being held in facilities run by the Ministry of Intelligence and the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), some of which have reportedly been amongst the targets of recent military attacks, further increasing concerns regarding their safety.

This is while at least 141 people, including four women, were executed in the first two months of 2026. Additionally, IHRNGO has received 531 further reports of executions during the same period, which it has not been able to independently verify.

Iran Human Rights expresses deep concern about the possibility of an escalation in executions in Iranian prisons, as well as the risk of harm to prisoners under wartime conditions, and stresses the necessity of implementing Directive No. 211 of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran to protect prisoners’ lives.

According to the Directive, in emergency situations arising from war, the Judiciary is required to take legal measures to safeguard prisoners’ lives. These measures include modifying bail conditions, temporarily releasing prisoners on bail, guarantee or surety, and transferring prisoners to secure locations.

IHRNGO Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam stated: “Under the current circumstances, hundreds of thousands of prisoners across Iran, including tens of thousands of protesters detained during the recent nationwide protests, some of whom are held in unofficial detention facilities outside any form of oversight, have become the most vulnerable and defenceless victims of this situation. They are not only exposed to the risk of bombardment, but also face the danger of expedited executions carried out under the shadow of war. The lives of these prisoners are in immediate danger, and their protection must become an urgent priority for the international community.”

According to information obtained by IHRNGO, restrictions have been imposed in at least five prisons across Iran, including Zanjan Central Prison, Evin Prison in Tehran, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Rasht Central (Lakan) Prison and Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison. Independent verification of the situation in other Iranian prisons is currently extremely difficult due to the near-total internet shutdown which was enforced on 28 February.

Reports received from Evin Prison indicate a suspension of food distribution in various wards, the closure of the prison commissary and cutting off communications. Images circulated on social media also show an increased presence of security and military forces around Evin Prison on 1st March.

Given that various areas of Tehran have been targeted in US and Israeli airstrikes over the past three days, and recalling Israel’s previous attack on Evin Prison on 22 June 2025 during the 12-day Israel-Iran war, concerns persist regarding the risk of a renewed attack on the prison and the danger posed to prisoners’ lives.

Families of prisoners have also gathered outside Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj due to concerns about the safety of their loved ones. Additional reports indicate restrictions imposed on prisoners, food shortages and reduced access to medical facilities in Ghezel Hesar and Rasht Central Prison.

At the same time, the conditions and whereabouts of a number of political prisoners in Iran remain unclear. Reports indicate that several political prisoners and other detainees held in Isfahan Central Prison have been transferred to undisclosed locations.

Furthermore, the family of political prisoner Heshmatollah Tabarzadi have reported that they have no information regarding his condition in Isfahan Central Prison and believe that he may have been transferred elsewhere. Heshmatollah had previously stated that if his family were to lose contact with him, he would start a hunger strike and that the responsibility for any consequences would lie with the Islamic Republic authorities.

The Narges Mohammadi Foundation has also issued a statement entitled “Do Not Forget Political Prisoners Amid War.” The statement expresses concern about the situation of the prominent human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who is held in Zanjan Central Prison, as well as other detainees. The city of Zanjan was reportedly targeted by US and Israeli airstrikes on 1st March, further increasing concerns regarding the safety of defenceless prisoners in the city’s prison should such attacks continue.

It is important to note that in most Iranian prisons, the number of detainees exceeds capacity even under normal circumstances. This is while over 50,000 protesters detained in connection with the recent nationwide protests have been added to this population. Many detainees, including those arrested in relation to the recent nationwide protests are held in unofficial facilities run by the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Organisation, which are often undisclosed locations lacking legal safeguards and the oversight mechanisms applicable to official prisons. Overcrowding in prisons and the absence of legal and supervisory frameworks in unofficial detention facilities significantly increase the risk of harm to detainees in the event of military strikes targeting or occurring near these locations.

According to the “Directive on Necessary Measures to Protect Prisoners’ Lives in War Zones during Emergency Situations”, adopted in December 1986 at Session No. 211 of the Supreme Judicial Council, in emergency situations arising from war, the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran is obliged to take legal measures to protect prisoners’ lives.

According to the Directive, “Should emergency conditions arise in war zones that endanger prisoners’ lives, prosecutors must urgently review the status of detainees within their jurisdiction and take measures including acceptance of bail, modification of bail conditions, granting conditional release, transferring prisoners out of prisons to work in institutions outside prison, and similar legal measures. Murder convicts and dangerous offenders must, in coordination with prison authorities and security and military forces, be transferred to secure locations or prisons in other cities. Where such measures are insufficient, prisoners must be released upon provision of an appropriate guarantor, surety, or bail until the emergency situation is resolved, in a manner consistent with the protection of prisoners’ lives and the maintenance of public order and security.”

January and February 2026 Executions at a Glance

Iran Human Rights has recorded at least 141 executions in Iran in the first two months of 2026. In addition to the verified cases, 531 further executions have been reported by unofficial sources which IHRNGO has been unable to independently verify at the time of publication.At least 141 people executed

Only 4 executions (2.8%) were announced by official sources

87 people (62%) were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder
39 people (28%) were executed on drug-related charges
11 people were executed on the security-related charges of baghy (armed rebellion), efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) and moharebeh (enmity against God). Of those, 2 were convicted of espionage for Israel, 2 were linked to ISIS and 7 were convicted of armed robbery
3 people executed on charges of rape
4 women executed. The charges against one the women is unknown
4 Baluch, 4 Arab and 3 Kurdish minorities were amongst those executed
6 Afghan nationals executed

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, March 2, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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