I am very worried.”Naimi’s uncertain fate comes amid concerns that a surge in executions is taking place in Iran and has been “overshadowed” by the US-Israeli war on Iran. At least 145 people are confirmed to have been killed in 2026 so far, with an additional 400-plus executions reported but not verified, according to Iran Human Rights. Photograph: Unpixs/Iran State MediaThe internet shutdown makes it impossible to determine exactly how many executions have been carried out this year. “We are concerned that these executions and human rights violations are overshadowed by the war,” says Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Iran Human Rights. Human rights groups say state media use executions as warnings to the public against dissent.

Source: The Guardian April 03, 2026 17:31 UTC