Iran Executes Man for Role in Anti-Government Protests

On Saturday, Iran announced the execution of Siavash Jamshidi, who was convicted of multiple charges, including firing a military-grade weapon at police during anti-government protests.

These protests peaked in January, following public anger over rising living costs. Thousands were reported killed during the unrest. Iranian officials have since increased the number of executions for those linked to the protests.

According to Iran’s judiciary, Jamshidi was sentenced to death for charges including moharebeh, which means ‘waging war against God’, and other offenses such as fraud, theft, and illegal possession of a weapon. He was also found guilty of kidnapping and causing bodily harm.

Jamshidi was said to be active during the protests, which began in December and escalated in early January. Iranian authorities claim that over 3,000 people died during the unrest, which they attribute to ‘terrorist acts’ supported by foreign nations like the United States and Israel.

In contrast, human rights organizations report that Iranian security forces fired on protesters. In the aftermath of the protests, the number of arrests and executions in Iran has surged, with at least 1,639 executions recorded in 2025, the highest since 1989. Amnesty International notes that Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world, second only to China.