As executions escalate... Iranian authorities restrict the work of lawyers

Concern is rising among rights organizations and Iranian lawyers over the increase in death sentences in Iran, amid accusations against the authorities of restricting the work of lawyers who defend defendants in political and security cases, according to a report by Radio France Internationale (RFI).

The report pointed to what rights organizations describe as an "unprecedented escalation" in the use of the death penalty in Iran.

It affirmed that the rising frequency of executions in Iran is accompanied by pressures imposed by the authorities on lawyers who defend defendants in pending cases.

The report says that lawyers handling cases of defendants in political files or related to the January 2026 protests are facing increasing pressures, including security summonses, threats of prosecution, and imposition of restrictions on their work.

These pressures have driven some lawyers to refrain from taking on cases or to remain silent for fear of facing sanctions.

Radio France Internationale quoted in its report Iranian lawyers saying that defendants in some cases are deprived of choosing an independent lawyer, or their lawyers are not allowed full access to the case file or adequate communication with their clients before trial.

The report noted that many cases are heard before what are called "Revolutionary Courts" in Iran, with death sentences issued within short time periods, which rights organizations consider a violation of fair trial standards.

The report linked the escalation of executions to the security campaign that followed the January 2026 protests, explaining that a number of those sentenced to death were convicted of charges such as "moharebeh" (waging war against God) or "corruption on earth" or killing members of security forces during the protests.

The report relied on data from rights organizations indicating a continued rise in the number of executions during 2026, with warnings that dozens of other prisoners face the risk of having sentences carried out against them soon.

It pointed out that United Nations experts called on Iranian authorities to cancel death sentences issued against 12 young men convicted in connection with the January protests, expressing concern over allegations regarding their deprivation of the right to defense, reliance on confessions said to have been extracted under duress, and holding collective trial sessions that do not meet justice standards.

For its part, the Iranian authorities insist that these sentences are based on serious crimes, including killing members of security forces or carrying out acts of violence, and deny accusations related to the absence of legal procedures, affirming that the trials were conducted in accordance with Iranian laws.

It is worth noting that Iran witnessed a wide wave of popular protests that began in late December 2025 and escalated significantly during January 2026, spreading to dozens of Iranian cities.

The main drivers of the protests were: the severe economic crisis, the collapse of the Iranian currency's value, and a sharp rise in prices in the country.