The Iranian regime executed Mehdi Khanaki following his participation in the nationwide protests of January 2026.

The Iranian regime executed Mehdi Khanaki, a 26-year-old law graduate and member of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, on Wednesday. The execution followed a sham trial by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, where Khanaki was sentenced to death for his active participation in the January 2026 protests. Authorities claimed Khanaki possessed various weapons, including five handguns and explosive remote controls, which were reportedly used during the unrest. The execution marks a significant escalation in the regime's use of capital punishment to suppress dissent. In the six days leading up to the execution, the Islamic Republic put to death five political prisoners, averaging nearly one execution per day. This wave of repression coincides with a massive hunger strike by 1,500 death-row prisoners at Qezel Hesar Prison, who are protesting the regime's reliance on executions as a tool of political control. While the regime continues to prioritize its own survival through military and nuclear projects, the Iranian people remain committed to seeking a democratic alternative.

Sources