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Iran: Prosecutor Threatens Death Penalty for Protesters

Published January 13, 2026, 18:06
Iran: Prosecutor Threatens Death Penalty for Protesters

The Iranian prosecutor's office announced that some of those arrested during the recent protests will be prosecuted for "war against God" (moharebeh in Persian), a serious charge that carries the death penalty. This announcement has raised concerns about the intensification of repression in Iran, as previous protests have already led to hundreds, possibly thousands, of deaths according to human rights organizations. Iranian state media also reports that dozens of security forces have been killed during the unrest. Iran ranks second globally in the number of executions, after China, having executed at least 1,500 people. Recently, twelve people were executed for participating in the 2022-2023 protests, and another twelve for espionage benefiting Israel. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed deep concern over public statements by judicial officials regarding the possibility of imposing the death penalty on protesters through expedited judicial proceedings. The Iran Human Rights (IHR) organization fears that the Iranian government is seeking to conduct swift trials without guaranteeing the rights of protesters. IHR specifically mentions the case of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was arrested and allegedly already sentenced to death, on unknown charges and without the case being highlighted in state media.