Iran executes two protesters for killing police during January protests
Iran executed two individuals accused of killing police officers during the January protests in Isfahan’s Shahid Alikhani Square, according to the state-run Fars news agency. The men allegedly bound officers to a signpost with ropes, assaulted them with stones, doused them in gasoline, set them on fire, and then stabbed them while they were still alive. The UN human rights office said at least 12 young men have received death sentences for killing four security personnel in the same square, with two executed on July 19 and these two on July 28. It said the proceedings appear to lack fair‑trial standards and urged an immediate halt. Iranian authorities say at least 24 people have been executed in connection with the protests this year, while the government claims 3,117 protest‑related deaths; NGOs such as HRANA put the death toll above 7,000 and the UN rapporteur suggests over 20,000 civilians may have died, though exact numbers cannot be verified due to internet restrictions. For Nigerians, the case echoes concerns over excessive use of force and the death penalty seen in protests like #EndSARS, highlighting the importance of international human‑rights scrutiny. Observers can follow updates via UN human rights channels, support groups monitoring death‑penalty abuses, and consider how such abuses affect asylum and refugee protections.