New UN revelation: Islamic Republic is sending protesting prisoners to death row

A new UN revelation about the Islamic Republic shows that the government, in the midst of a military crisis and regional instability, is pushing protest prisoners towards execution through hasty judicial processes.

As Iran faces rising military tensions and regional conflicts, a UN-affiliated investigative body has warned that a large number of prisoners in Iran, particularly those detained during nationwide protests, are at serious risk of being sentenced to death. The new warning has once again drawn international attention to the human rights situation in Iran and the Islamic Republic’s brutal crackdown on dissent.

The warning comes from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, a mission mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate human rights abuses in the crackdown on protests. The group of experts said they had received numerous credible reports indicating that prisoners held by the Islamic Republic’s security services are being held in conditions that are far more dangerous than in the past.

The statement from the panel said: "Several others are also facing the risk of execution, in proceedings that violate international standards of fair trial, due process rights, and the right to life."

According to these experts, one of the main concerns is the government’s use of expedited and opaque judicial processes, processes that could lead to the issuance of death sentences for detained protesters. Experience in recent years has shown that the so-called “revolutionary” courts in Iran have repeatedly issued harsh sentences, including death sentences, without observing the principles of fair trial.

The panel warned that many prisoners, especially those arrested during the widespread protests in various cities in Iran, may face torture, ill-treatment and even enforced disappearances while in detention. Such actions constitute serious human rights violations under international law.

UN experts have stressed that the current situation of prisoners in Iran comes at a time when the government has a well-documented history of severely suppressing popular protests. In recent years, human rights organizations have reported on mass arrests, show trials, and the use of the death penalty against protesters.

According to UN investigators, Iranian citizens are now faced with the consequences of a deepening military crisis and a government with a long history of violating fundamental rights, raising concerns about the safety and future of political prisoners and detained protesters.

At the same time, regional tensions have also escalated. Reports indicate that the exchange of attacks between Iran, Israel and the United States has continued for several days, raising the risk of a regional war. Such conflicts could involve more countries in the Middle East, including some Gulf states.

The UN fact-finding mission has also expressed concern about the Islamic Republic's retaliatory attacks against targets in the region, warning that these actions have led to civilian deaths and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The statement emphasized: "All parties involved in this conflict are obliged to respect international humanitarian law."

UN experts have recalled that any military operation must respect the fundamental principles of humanitarian law, including the distinction between military and civilian targets, proportionality in the use of force, and the adoption of precautionary measures to protect civilians.

Among the reports, some sources have reported deadly attacks on civilian areas. In one of the deadliest incidents reported, a missile reportedly hit a school in the city of Minab in southern Iran, killing more than 150 students and teachers and wounding many more. The incident has raised widespread concerns about the safety of civilians in the ongoing conflict.

However, UN experts have stressed that beyond the threats posed by war, the lives of prisoners are also at direct risk. They say a potential attack on detention centers could create a humanitarian catastrophe. This concern is raised, citing a previous attack on Evin prison in Tehran in June 2025, which posed serious risks to prisoners.

Another area of ​​criticism for the mission is the widespread internet and communications shutdown in Iran, which UN experts say not only limits citizens' access to vital information about attacks and the security situation, but also deprives families of the ability to contact detained relatives.

They say that in times of crisis, free access to information can be vital for the security of citizens and relief operations. Cutting off communications isolates society and reduces the possibility of independent monitoring of the human rights situation.

In conclusion, the UN fact-finding mission called on member states to take urgent diplomatic steps to reduce tensions and prevent the crisis from escalating. The experts stressed that the only way to protect the rights of the Iranian people is to achieve a lasting peace based on full respect for international law.

The statement of the delegation states: "A lasting peace based on full respect for international law, including international human rights law and the UN Charter, is the only sustainable way to protect the rights of the Iranian people."

The Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran was first established by the UN Human Rights Council in November 2022 to investigate human rights violations related to the crackdown on protests that began in September of that year. The mission was extended for another two years in January 2026 to continue investigating ongoing allegations of widespread human rights violations in Iran.