Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the execution of two men convicted of membership in the banned opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) and carrying out armed attacks on government property. The hangings, which took place at dawn, come as Tehran intensifies its domestic crackdown during the second month of its high-intensity war with the United States and Israel.
The Convictions: “Terrorist Acts” and Weaponry
According to the judiciary’s official news outlet, Mizan Online, the two men were found guilty of “rebellion” and “disrupting national security” through a series of violent operations.
- The Charges: The defendants were accused of participating in “riots and urban terrorist actions” aimed at overthrowing the Islamic Republic.
- The Attacks: Specifically, the judiciary reported that the men were involved in firing improvised launcher weapons at a government building in Tehran.
- The Verdict: The executions were carried out at Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj after their death sentences were confirmed and finalized by the Supreme Court.
Identity of the Executed
Human rights organizations, including the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Hengaw, identified the men as:
- Akbar Daneshvarkar (60): A reported member of the MEK who had been held at Evin Prison since early 2024.
- Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi (59): Also identified as a “political prisoner” by rights groups, who was sentenced alongside Daneshvarkar in a process critics say lacked due process.
Strategic Context: Repression During Wartime
International observers and rights advocates have expressed grave concern that the Iranian government is utilizing the fog of the ongoing war to expedite the execution of political dissidents.
- The “Islamabad Track” Paradox: The executions occurred even as Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other “more reasonable” officials engage in back-channel peace talks via Pakistan.
- Spreading Fear: “We fear that the Islamic Republic will exploit current wartime conditions to carry out mass executions… to instill societal fear,” stated Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHR.
- Ongoing Protests: The judiciary’s statement linked the men to “foreign-instigated riots,” a reference to the nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked in early January 2026, which rights groups say resulted in over 7,000 deaths.
| Execution Metric | Details (March 31, 2026) |
| Number of Executed | 2 Men |
| Location | Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj |
| Affiliation | People’s Mojahedin of Iran (MEK) |
| Method | Hanging |
| Primary Charge | Attacking government buildings with launchers |
International Condemnation
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the political arm of the MEK based in Paris, confirmed the executions and called the act a “barbaric” attempt to quell internal resistance. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council recently warned of “expedited” death penalty proceedings for protesters as the regional conflict continues to escalate following the massive U.S.-Israeli “bunker buster” strikes on Isfahan.
