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The Islamic Republic of Iran has accelerated its execution of dissidents and activists, with the true number of victims likely obscured by the regime’s internet censorship and blackouts.
Since the coup in January, Tehran has imposed a bloody crackdown on its opponents.
The Iran Human Rights Society has documented 784 executions so far in 2026. A representative of the organization told Fox News Digital that “these statistics show a rapid trend of killings since March,” and explained that “in particular, the killing of political prisoners has reached a level not seen in the last 37 years.”
‘KILLING THE COUNTRY’: Iran KILLS MANY, ARRESTS 4,000+ IN WAR
A woman lays down flowers for the victims of the killings in Iran during a rally in Paris, France, on May 13, 2025. (Photos by Siavosh Hosseini/SOPA/LightRocket via Getty Images)
A State Department official told Fox News Digital that “we are aware of disturbing reports about the recent increase in killings in Iran.” The official noted that he “strongly condemns the Iranian regime’s use of killings to punish people for exercising their basic human rights, including Iranians peacefully protesting for a better life.”
The official said that “for decades, Iranians have been subjected to torture and false trials leading to executions and severe punishments, often with forced confessions as the only evidence given to them.”
According to information provided to Fox News Digital by the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) on June 4, the Islamic Republic of Iran executed at least 18 prisoners between May 31 and June 1. These include 12 prisoners who were hanged on May 31, and six other prisoners who were executed on June 1, one of which was “publicly sentenced.”
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The NCRI has counted a total of 32 people killed between March 19 and June 1. These include eight members of the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOE/MEK) and 24 participants in Iran’s January 2026 protests.
In documents provided to Fox News Digital, the NCRI said on June 7 that there is an “imminent threat of execution” of five political prisoners in Sheiban prison in Ahvaz, four of whom have been sentenced to death for being members of the PMOI/MEK.
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of NCRI, sent to X an invitation to “take urgent action” from the UN to “prevent the killing.”
Days earlier on June 2, following the killing of two protesters in January, Rajavi said of X that “the clerical regime has committed another heinous crime in Iran.” He urged the UN Security Council and the European Union “to strongly condemn these criminal killings and take effective measures to stop the killing of political prisoners and protesters in Iran.”
The Iran Human Rights Society emphasized NCRI’s account of 18 recent executions between May 31 and June 1. Their representative explained that despite the blackout of the Internet, they received reports from “the network of prison sources, prisoners’ families, lawyers, and local contacts” and explained that “all reports are reviewed and checked by many independent sources before publication.” Although they said “Internet restrictions make documentation more difficult,” they said they “continue to receive, verify and document information.”
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A noose is seen on display during a meeting in Paris, France on May 13, 2025. (Photos by Siavosh Hosseini/SOPA/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Alp Toker, the director of NetBlocks, a global internet watchdog, told Fox News Digital that “internet connections in Iran are largely restored but the available service remains limited compared to the state of things before the protests and war this year. For many users, in fact, that means that access to other countries is slow with indications that they are struggling and there is an increase in the filtering of applications, especially those targeting messaging.
“Since the restoration, this situation is not an important or serious solution,” he said.
However, a representative of the Iran Human Rights Society noted that the actual number of executions was “almost certainly” higher than the figure they took. “The ruling authorities in Iran often carry out murders in secret and do not publicly announce many of them,” explained the representative. In addition, the representative added that “a large number of executions, especially in remote areas or areas with limited access to information, may remain undocumented or reach us only after a long delay.”
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The representative also noted that the number of executions in the documents of the Iran Human Rights Society “has always been lower than the actual number committed.”
The United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Mai Sato, did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the increase in killings in Iran.
