World · Middle East · 12 hrs ago
Iran hangs two men convicted over January protest killings
Iran hanged Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi at Isfahan Central Prison on Tuesday.
The men were arrested during anti-government protests in January and convicted in connection with the killing of four police officers in Isfahan.
Iran’s judiciary said their death sentences were upheld after appeals, while human rights groups said the cases involved torture, forced confessions and serious failures of due process.
The executions bring to 36 the number of people human rights groups say Iran has executed this year over the protests.
The case matters because three other defendants remain at risk of execution, according to the Iran Human Rights Organisation.
The organisation has urged European countries to take action to prevent further executions.
Iranian police said an officer was killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in Saravan county, in the southeast.
On Tuesday, Iran hanged Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi over the killing of four police officers during January protests in Isfahan.
Iranian authorities said the men were responsible for the killings, while human rights groups reported torture, forced confessions and due-process violations in their cases.
The two men were among 36 people executed in Iran this year in connection with the January protests, according to the Iran Human Rights Organisation.
- Who
- Iranian police reported that Third Lieutenant Hojat Vafakardeh was killed. Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi were hanged.
- What
- An unidentified armed attack killed a police officer, and Iran executed two men convicted over the killing of four police officers during protests.
- When
- The executions and reported officer killing were announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The four police officers were killed on January 8.
- Where
- The attack on the officer was in Saravan county, Sistan-Baluchistan province. The executions took place at Isfahan Central Prison.
- Why
- Police said the motive for the attack was not clear. Iranian authorities said the two men were involved in the killing of four police officers during January protests.
Iranian judiciary
Iran Human Rights Organisation
Aspect
Iranian judiciary
Iranian judiciary's view
Iran Human Rights Organisation
Iran Human Rights Organisation's view
The men’s responsibility
Iranian judiciary
The men were among the main perpetrators of the killing of four police officers and committed multiple criminal acts.
Iran Human Rights Organisation
The men were not charged with murder, despite authorities citing the deaths of four security officers to justify the executions.
The legal proceedings
Iranian judiciary
The cases underwent legal review, and the death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court after appeals.
Iran Human Rights Organisation
The cases involved torture, forced confessions and gross violations of due process.
Iranian authorities said the four police officers were killed at Alikhani Square in Isfahan.
Iran executed Alireza Sepahi and Alireza Raissi for involvement in the same case.
The Iran Human Rights Organisation said the two men’s cases involved torture, forced confessions and due-process violations.
Iran hanged Maleki and Ebrahimi at Isfahan Central Prison.
Police said Third Lieutenant Hojat Vafakardeh was killed in an attack in Saravan county.
- Officer killed
- Third Lieutenant Hojat Vafakardeh
- Attack location
- Saravan county, Sistan-Baluchistan province
- Executed men
- Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi
- Execution location
- Isfahan Central Prison
- January case
- Four police officers were killed at Alikhani Square, Isfahan
- Executions linked to January protests
- 36 people this year, according to the Iran Human Rights Organisation
3 sources
What people are saying
Efforts by police and security forces to identify and arrest those responsible for this cowardly attack are ongoing
The authorities have used the deaths of four security officers to justify these executions, although none of those executed were charged with murder
Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi, two armed perpetrators of the January 2026 crime in Isfahan whose brutal and atrocious actions led to the martyrdom of four police officers, were hanged