Iran Executes 33 People Arrested During January Protests

At least 33 people arrested during Iran’s January 2026 protests have been executed, the Iran-based human rights organization Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said. The group also said nearly 100 protesters remain at risk of execution.

In a statement released on Monday, CHRI said the executions began on March 20. However, the names and details of many of those executed only became public after the executions were carried out.

The organization also alleged that the families and relatives of those sentenced to death have faced pressure and threats. Independent human rights lawyers involved in the cases have also come under pressure, it said.

The protests, referred to as the January 2026 protests, began on December 28 of the previous year over Iran’s deteriorating economic conditions and later spread across the country. At one point, protesters also turned their opposition toward Iran’s religious leadership.

Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of attempting to destabilize the country through the protests. Authorities have said the demonstrations were initially peaceful and constitutional but later turned violent following the alleged infiltration of armed groups.

The executions have sparked international concern. In a joint statement issued ahead of a recent session of the UN Human Rights Council, 46 countries expressed concern over Iran’s use of the death penalty, particularly the execution of protesters.