Iran carries out another execution linked to January protests

A death sentence has been carried out in Iran against Abbas Akbari, whom authorities link to the January protests in the country.

According to Tasnim, Akbari was considered “one of the armed leaders of the January protests” and is alleged to have opened fire on security forces in the street.

He was found guilty of hostile actions and intentional destruction of public property with the aim of opposing the “sacred system” of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The January protests in Iran are generally understood as part of a renewed nationwide wave of anti-government unrest that escalated after late December 2025, driven by economic pressure, political grievances, and long-standing demands for civil rights reforms. 

Security forces responded with widespread force, including mass arrests, internet disruptions, and reported lethal crackdowns across multiple cities, according to human rights organisations monitoring the situation.

International watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch reported that the unrest quickly spread beyond initial triggers, evolving into broader demonstrations against state repression and governance structures, with authorities accusing participants of national security offences. In several cases, protests were met with heavy militarised policing and allegations of unlawful killings and mass detentions.

Amnesty International also documented that the authorities’ response included a coordinated crackdown marked by arrests and the use of firearms against demonstrators during this period of unrest.

By Jeyhun Aghazada