Iranian Regime Escalates Domestic Terror with Public Executions and Mass Arrests During Persian New Year Celebrations

The Iranian regime executes protesters and arrests over 1,000 citizens for "propaganda" as domestic resistance against the Islamic Republic reaches a fever pitch.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 4:28 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Public Executions as a Tool of State Intimidation

The Iranian judiciary has marked the arrival of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, by escalating its use of capital punishment to suppress domestic dissent. On March 19, authorities in the city of Qom publicly hanged three young men—Saleh Mohammadi, Saeed Davoudi, and Mehdi Ghasemi—who were arrested during the January protest wave. The victims were charged with moharebeh, or "waging war against God," a broad legal designation frequently used to silence political opponents. Reports indicate that Mohammadi, a 19-year-old wrestler, was subjected to severe torture, including the breaking of his arms, to extract a confession. These public spectacles, often involving cranes in major city centers, serve as a gruesome reminder of the regime's prioritized focus on eliminating internal threats.

Unprecedented Surge in State-Sanctioned Killings

The scale of executions within the Iranian prison system has reached its highest level in three decades. Between March 2025 and March 2026, over 2,657 individuals were executed, more than doubling the previous year's figures. This surge includes the execution of minors and individuals accused of "spreading propaganda in favor of the enemy." The regime’s adherence to these violent practices, regardless of international pressure or ongoing military conflict, suggests that the preservation of Islamist ideological control remains the primary objective of the judiciary, even as the country faces external bombardment.

Wartime Crackdown on Digital and Online Activity

Under the guise of national security, Iranian state media reported the arrest of 466 individuals on March 24 for online activities deemed subversive. These arrests are part of a broader "wartime crackdown" targeting citizens who share war footage with diaspora media or provide information that could potentially assist the "enemy." Within a two-week period, approximately 1,000 people have been detained, with many accused of ties to "monarchists" or "terrorist elements." The regime’s cyber-police have specifically targeted those who use social media to document the movements of the repression apparatus, reflecting a deep-seated fear of citizen-led intelligence gathering.