Iran executes protest detainee Erfan Kiani amid surge in hangings

Hengaw – Saturday, April 25, 2026

Erfan Kiani has been executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran after being sentenced to death on security-related charges, including moharebeh (waging war against God), following his arrest during the protest wave that began in late December 2025 and continued into January 2026. He is the eighth protest detainee executed in Iranian prisons since the start of the 40-day war.

State-affiliated outlets including Mizan News Agency reported that Kiani was executed in the early hours of Saturday, April 25, 2026, after his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Kiani was arrested during protests in Isfahan and later prosecuted by the Revolutionary Court on charges including moharebeh through the alleged use of a bladed weapon, creating insecurity, incitement to violent acts, and participation in the destruction of public property. Judiciary-affiliated media also claimed that he had led protesters and thrown Molotov cocktails at security forces.

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights strongly condemns the execution and warns that since the outbreak of military confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the United States in March 2026, the Islamic Republic has sharply escalated its use of the death penalty to spread fear throughout society. Political prisoners and detained protesters have been among the main targets. The acceleration of protest-related executions underscores the authorities’ use of capital punishment as a tool to contain internal crises.

Officials have not released further details regarding the exact location of the execution or the conditions under which Kiani was held prior to his death.