Iran is carrying out executions of individuals detained during the January 2026 anti-government protests. Some of those sentenced face charges such as "enmity against God" and "corruption on Earth," both of which can carry the death penalty. Families of detainees have reported that their loved ones were denied access to lawyers of their choice, and in some cases, confessions obtained under pressure and torture have been used as the primary evidence for death sentences. Human rights activists and former political prisoners say the names that have been made public are only a small portion of those sentenced to death. Some sources claim that interrogators and judicial officials have promised families that if they keep the case out of the media, there may be a chance of securing a reduced sentence. In other instances, independent lawyers have been barred from participating, and families have remained silent out of fear of increased pressure on the prisoner. Among those affected is Mehrdad Takesh, a 33-year-old man from Dizicheh, Isfahan, who has been sentenced to death twice on the charge of "enmity against God." He was arrested on 14 January and severely tortured in detention, causing both of his hands to be broken. His family had no precise information about his whereabouts for four months until he eventually contacted them from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. A source familiar with the case said that, apart from confessions obtained under torture, there is no other evidence to substantiate the charges against him. His family fears his execution could be carried out without prior notice. In Isfahan, Sepehr Amirzadeh, a medical student in his early twenties, has also been sentenced to death on the same charge. Security forces arrested him at his home on 15 January and transferred him to Dastgerd Prison. Details surrounding the charge against the young student have yet to be disclosed, and his case is currently under review by the Supreme Court. In Mashhad, the Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence issued by a Revolutionary Court for the same charge. At least 20 people detained during the Iranian national uprising in Mashhad are at risk of execution, with details having so far emerged about five of them: Mehdi Zarif, Mohammad Zanganeh, Ali Zaghi, Vahid Khedrikhah, and Najmeh Amini. They were arrested during protests in Mashhad and Shandiz and face serious charges, including "enmity against God." Reports indicate that they have been denied access to lawyers and family visits and subjected to torture and threats during interrogation. Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old accounting student, was arrested in Mashhad on 2 February and is currently being held in Vakilabad Prison on the charge of "enmity against God." Her family says the initial reason for her arrest was several protest-related posts on her personal Instagram account. Officers beat and arrested her while she was shopping. Amini spent two days in security police custody, where sources say she was forced to confess. She has been denied access to a lawyer throughout her detention. Meanwhile, Shamsi Khosravi, 44, from Saqqez, is held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, on charges of "corruption on Earth" and "espionage for Israel." According to human rights sources, Abolqasem Salavati, the judge presiding over Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, told her during a hearing that "no sentence other than death" awaited her. She was arrested on 5 March and held in enforced disappearance for two months without any means of contacting her family. Concerns have intensified as several death sentences have been carried out in recent weeks. On 7 August, the judiciary announced the execution of Shahram Sadeghi, who was detained during the January protests in Karaj. The judiciary accused him of carrying out "operational activities" on behalf of Israel and the United States, but its official report did not disclose details of the evidence supporting the charges or the process through which the sentence was issued and upheld. Arvin Kheirkhah was also executed at Shahroud Prison on 1 August, three days after being transferred to solitary confinement and despite his family gathering outside the prison the night before his execution. In Isfahan’s "Alikhani Square" case, 12 detainees were sentenced to death, with Erfan Esfandiyari, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, Abolfazl Sepahi, and Amirhossein Safari already executed. On 3 August, the judiciary’s media outlet also reported the executions of Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat. Saeed Madani, an Iranian sociologist and former political prisoner, said that four of the five defendants in a case related to the protests of 8 and 9 January were executed "solely for throwing stones from a rooftop at officers." According to Madani, three of them were sentenced without a lawyer present. On Wednesday, 12 August, 32 countries and the European Union’s High Representative issued a joint statement condemning the Islamic Republic’s use of the death penalty against protesters, urging Iran to halt executions and release those who had been arbitrarily detained. In contrast, several Friday prayer leaders appointed by the Supreme Leader, including Hossein Mozaffari in Qazvin and Mehdi Ghoreishi in Urmia, have welcomed the executions. In their Friday sermons, they thanked the judiciary for what they described as giving protesters "the punishment they deserved" and called for the process to continue with "greater determination." The main concern among the families who spoke to Independent Persian is not only that existing sentences will be upheld, but that they could be carried out suddenly and in secret. Human rights activists argue that a lack of clarity over the number of death sentences, forced confessions obtained under torture, the denial of independent lawyers, and the silence of families hoping publicity-free cases might save their children all mean that the true scale of the post-January protest executions remains deeply unclear. According to information received, the scope of the executions is far wider than the names that have so far reached the media.