The executions have drawn widespread international criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments, which condemned Tehran for the apparent lack of due process and the use of torture to obtain confessions. Human rights advocates argued that the Iranian judiciary frequently targets ethnic minorities, including Arabs and Kurds, framing political dissent as foreign-backed terrorism to justify harsh penalties.
The six Arab separatists were accused of attacks in Khorramshahr, a city in Khuzestan province known for its ethnic Arab population, where decades-long grievances over political marginalization and economic neglect have occasionally flared into violence. The Iranian authorities claimed the men had links to Israel, a charge widely viewed by observers as politically motivated and lacking transparent evidence.
The execution of Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, the Kurdish man convicted of assassinating a pro-government Sunni cleric in Sanandaj, has particularly alarmed international observers. Mohammadi Khiyareh was reportedly only 15 or 16 at the time of the alleged crime, raising concerns about Iran’s use of capital punishment for juvenile offenders, which violates international law. His decade-long detention and the reliance on confessions obtained under duress have further fueled criticism of the Iranian judicial process.
Amnesty International highlighted that Iran has carried out more than 1,000 executions in 2025 alone, marking the highest annual tally in at least 15 years. Experts suggest this surge reflects a broader crackdown by Tehran on dissent and ethnic minority communities, as well as the judiciary’s continued use of capital punishment as a tool of political control. Global human rights bodies have called on Iran to halt executions, ensure fair trials, and respect international norms regarding juvenile offenders and due process.
