UN Experts Urge Iran to Revoke Death Sentences for 12 Protesters, Halt Executions

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GENEVA, July 27, 2026 — United Nations human rights experts have condemned Iran's decision to sentence 12 young men to death over their alleged involvement in the January 2026 protests, calling for the immediate revocation of the sentences and a halt to all executions.

The experts said sentencing 12 defendants to death in a single closed-door hearing, without clearly establishing each individual's responsibility, violates internationally recognized fair trial standards.

The men, most of them in their late teens and early twenties, were reportedly arbitrarily detained. Some were allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance and ill-treatment before being accused of killing four security force members, as well as committing arson and vandalism during the January 8 protests at Shahid Alikhani Square in Isfahan. The charges remain unclear because proceedings before Iran's Revolutionary Court are held in secret and judgments are not made public.

On July 19, 2026, two of the men were executed, raising fears that the remaining 10 could face the same fate. Among those at risk is Shervin Bagherian Jebeli, who had just turned 18 days before his arrest. Within a week of his detention—and before any trial—state television broadcast a video showing him confessing to attacking security officers during interrogation. The experts noted that he appeared unaware of the meaning of the capital charge of moharebeh ("enmity against God"), raising serious concerns about whether he had access to legal counsel of his own choosing.

The experts said Jebeli's case reflects a broader pattern of prosecutions resulting in death sentences after proceedings that appear to fall short of international fair trial guarantees. "Confessions obtained under coercion must never be admitted as evidence, and broadcasting them before trial violates the presumption of innocence," the experts said.

According to the UN experts, at least 24 people have been executed in connection with the January protests in 2026. Many were young demonstrators exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and participation in public life, including members of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

The experts warned that Iran's current legal framework leaves little room for peaceful dissent. "As national laws currently stand, it is impossible to take part in any protest critical of the State without risking reprisals and persecution. This cycle will only be broken when civic space opens up and freedom of peaceful assembly and expression is guaranteed," they said.

They added that the apparent objective of the executions is to spread fear, discourage future demonstrations, and silence dissent, warning that repression only fuels further resistance. Despite the risks, the experts noted that Iranians continue to demand change through peaceful initiatives, including the ongoing "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign and a sit-in strike at Ghezelhesar Prison. The experts urged Iranian authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on executions while moving toward abolition of the death penalty. They said the moratorium should ensure full compliance with international human rights law, including fair trial guarantees and limiting capital punishment to only the most serious crimes. "Executions only add to the violence and grief Iranians have endured," the experts said. The UN experts said they remain in contact with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding these concerns.