What distinguishes the page of Iran’s history at the beginning of 2026 more than ever before is the emergence of an uprising that reflects the public’s anger toward Iran’s regime.
Images of the piled-up bodies of those killed in the uprising in warehouses and morgues have recorded a bitter yet telling picture in Iran’s history.
Something that until a day earlier was unimaginable for the people and the majority of society suddenly occurred, not as an isolated incident in one corner of the country but in an organized manner across most cities in Iran.
Resistance Units Intensify Activities Across Iran Amid External Military Strikes
But immediately after that crime, the people of Iran became caught in a war that itself represents another scene of human rights violations by the ruling dictatorship as well as by the attacking countries.
The Human Rights Situation in Iran in February
The situation of repression and human rights violations in Iran in February 2026 can be summarized as follows:
Executions
According to published reports, at least 295 people were executed in various prisons across Iran during this month. Among those executed were three Baluch individuals, 12 Kurds, and three Afghan nationals.
The breakdown of executions is as follows:
- Men in prison: 291
- Women in prison: four
Women Executed
- Shahla Dowlatabadi: Executed on February 9, 2026, on murder charges in Kerman Central Prison.
- Esmat Najafi: Executed on February 15, 2026, on murder charges in Qom Central Prison.
- Mina Nasirpour: She was 40 years old and was executed on February 16, 2026, on drug-related charges in Tabriz Central Prison. Her husband had also been executed in November 2025.
- Soheila Asadi: Executed on February 23, 2026, on murder charges in Isfahan Central Prison.
Arrests
Following the January uprising, the wave of arrests continued during this month as well. However, the exact number of arrests has not yet been fully released. According to available reports, at least 244 people whose names have been announced were arrested during this month, though the real number of arrests is believed to be much higher.
Reports were also published this month of one case of arbitrary arrest and two cases of arrests involving followers of other religions.
Arbitrary Killings and Torture
Regarding arbitrary killings and cases of torture in prisons and detention centers following January 2025, no precise statistics have been released, but evidence and reports indicate that the number of such cases is likely significant.
