Iran Continues Execution of Protesters and Shifts Compulsory Hijab Enforcement Tactics

The Iranian government maintains a high rate of executions for protesters and political dissidents, issues new death sentences, and intensifies crackdowns on cultural figures. Concurrently, it is evolving its methods for enforcing compulsory hijab, indicating a severe and ongoing human rights crisis.

📌 Key developments

• Iranian authorities executed two more January 2026 protesters, Alireza Sepahi and Alireza Raisi, on October 5, 2026, in Isfahan, bringing the total in the 'Alikhani Square' case to seven.
• A Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohsen Babaian, a January 2026 protester, to death on October 6, 2026, for 'waging war against God'.
• Hardliners are shifting focus from 'morality police' street enforcement to social pressure in workplaces, services, and businesses to enforce compulsory hijab, as women continue to defy the rules.
• Political prisoners across 66 Iranian prisons initiated a hunger strike on October 6, 2026, marking the 141st consecutive week of the 'No to Executions Tuesdays' campaign.

💡 Why it matters

The persistent use of the death penalty against protesters signals a continued hardline stance against dissent, aiming to suppress future unrest. The shift in hijab enforcement tactics indicates the government's adaptation to widespread defiance, seeking new methods to maintain control over women's rights and public appearance.

🎭 People in the news

• Alireza Sepahi — Executed on October 5, 2026, for his involvement in the January 2026 protests.
• Alireza Raisi — Executed on October 5, 2026, for his involvement in the January 2026 protests.
• Mohsen Babaian — Sentenced to death on October 6, 2026, for 'waging war against God' in connection with the January 2026 protests.
• Esfandiar Aban — Director of Research at the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), who commented on the escalating crackdown on cultural figures.
• Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam — Director of Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), who commented on the ongoing executions of protesters.

👀 What to watch

• Monitor for further executions among the 194 individuals currently on death row, particularly those linked to the January 2026 protests.
• Observe the effectiveness and societal impact of the new social and economic pressures being applied to women defying compulsory hijab.