Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Iran Executes Protester Convicted of Running Over Police Officers
In a country called Iran, the government put a man to death.
The man's name was Shahram Sadeghi.
He had been found guilty of driving his car into police officers and hurting seven of them.
This happened on January 8 in a city called Karaj.
At that time, many people in Iran were protesting because life was very expensive.
The protests grew very big and many people took part.
Iran says more than 3,000 people died and blames America and Israel for the trouble.
Groups that protect people's rights say the government's security forces hurt protesters.
Iran has executed more than 1,600 people in one year, which is the most since 1989.
Iran's judiciary announced the execution of Shahram Sadeghi, convicted of running over police officers with his car during anti-government protests.
The judiciary said Sadeghi was sentenced to death for an 'operational action in support of the Zionist regime and the United States.'
Sadeghi's January 8 car incident in Karaj, west of Tehran, wounded seven police officers.
The protests, sparked in late December by the high cost of living, peaked on January 8-9; authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths and blamed 'terrorist acts' orchestrated by the United States and Israel, while rights groups said security forces fired on protesters.
Iran executed at least 1,639 people last year, a record high since 1989, and Amnesty International ranks Iran second after China in executions.
- Who
- Shahram Sadeghi, whose execution was announced by Iran's judiciary; also the seven police officers wounded in his car incident.
- What
- Sadeghi was executed after being convicted of running over several police officers with his car during anti-government protests, wounding seven of them.
- When
- The execution was announced on Sunday; the car incident occurred on January 8.
- Where
- Iran — the incident happened in Karaj, west of Tehran.
- Why
- The judiciary said Sadeghi was sentenced to death for 'carrying out an operational action in support of the Zionist regime and the United States.'
Rights Groups
Iranian Authorities
Blame for protest deaths
Rights Groups
Rights groups based abroad say security forces fired on protesters during the demonstrations.
Iranian Authorities
Iranian authorities attribute the more than 3,000 reported deaths to 'terrorist acts' orchestrated by the United States and Israel.
Protest-linked executions
Rights Groups
Rights groups report a record number of executions — at least 1,639 last year — and say many executions are linked to the protests.
Iranian Authorities
Authorities say those executed, like Sadeghi, were convicted of actions in support of the United States and Israel.
- Executed person
- Shahram Sadeghi
- Reason given for execution
- Operational action in support of the Zionist regime and the United States
- Incident
- Ran over police officers with his car on January 8, wounding seven
- Location of incident
- Karaj, west of Tehran
- Reported protest deaths
- More than 3,000
- Executions in Iran last year
- At least 1,639 (record high since 1989)
- Iran's global execution ranking
- Second most after China (per Amnesty International)
- Authorities' explanation for violence
- Terrorist acts orchestrated by the United States and Israel