Iran Human Rights Violations Update: October 2026

Between the release of JINSA’s last Iran Human Rights Violations Update on September 23 and October 31, the Iranian government executed at least eight people on political and security related charges, including five people in just six days who participated in the nationwide anti-regime protests in January, up from seven protest-related executions the regime carried out between July 22 and August 23. The Iranian regime also sentenced 14 others to death for participating in the January protests. Additionally, authorities arrested protesters’ family members and network contacts for seeking justice, including the lawyer who officiated the marriage of two detainees, one of whom authorities executed hours after their over-the-phone wedding.

Despite the regime enforcing harsh punishments for protesting, the Iranian people continued to demonstrate against unfair treatment by their government with laborers, trade unions, and professional organizations holding protests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Notably, one woman, Raheleh Soltani, also bravely criticized the government for increasing her mother’s medication prices, resulting in a five-month prison sentence for Soltani.

While continuing to suppress political opposition and protests, the regime cracked down on ethnic and religious minorities by arresting at least 55 Kurds, 10 Baloch citizens, and 10 Arabs who government forces detained without providing any reason for their arrests or concrete evidence for their alleged crimes. Authorities also sentenced at least 10 followers of the Baha’i faith to prison for promoting their religion, engaging in proselytizing actions, or holding membership in groups that the regime perceives as a threat to Islam.

Additionally, throughout the reporting period, authorities targeted teenagers, including several minors, in their nationwide assault. Notably, Basij forces, known for their suppression of political opposition in Iran, beat a 17-year-old boy to death for arguing with a guard outside his home, while security forces in North Khorasan Province arrested a 16-year-old boy for his connection to the January protests. The regime’s arbitrary detentions also targeted several Kurdish teenagers, with authorities arresting a 15-year-old Kurdish boy in September without reason, and then detaining eight other Kurdish teenagers in October without reason, including a 17-year-old girl at her school. Furthermore, a 9-year-old Baloch child succumbed to his wounds after security forces shot him in the head.

The entries below highlight just some of the many cases of human rights abuses in Iran between September 23 and October 31.