Execution of Amirhossein Hatami
Amirhossein Hatami | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2007 |
| Died | (aged 18) |
Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
On 2 April 2026, 18-year-old Iranian teenager Amirhossein Hatami (امیرحسین حاتمی; born 2007) was executed by hanging by the Islamic Republic of Iran. He had been arrested 84 days prior, during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests for allegedly setting a Basij base on fire. The case drew widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations.[1][2][3]
Arrest, trial, and execution
Hatami was arrested on 8 January 2026. He and six other were charged with attacking a facility belonging to the Basij militia.
Following his arrest, Hatami didn’t have enough money for a lawyer of his own choosing and was instead assigned "court appointed counsel". Ten days after his arrest, on 18 January 2026, state media broadcast confessions by five of the defendants.
The trial was held on 7 February 2026 in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati ("Judge of Death") who has been subject to United States sanctions since 2019 for his alleged frequent imposition of death sentences.[4] The court sentenced all seven defendants to death on charges of "moharebeh" (enmity against God).[5]
On 31 March 2026, Hatami and four other prisoners were transferred to the solitary confinement ward of Qezelhesar Prison. Amirhossein Hatami was executed on 2 April 2026.[6][7]
As of April 17, 2026, Iranian security forces continue to withhold Hatami's body four days after his execution, reportedly to pressure his grieving family.[8]
Reactions
Amnesty International expressed outrage at what it described as "the arbitrary execution of a teenage protester" calling his trial "grossly unfair". The organization added that "while the population faces mass casualties from bombardment, the authorities continue to weaponize the death penalty to silence dissent."[9]
References
- ↑ "Teenage Protester Amirhossein Hatami Hanged 84 Days After Arrest; IHRNGO Warns of More Executions in Coming Days". iranhr.net. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Hana Report on the Execution of Amirhossein Hatami a Detainee of the January 2026 Protests in Iran". Hana Human Rights Organization. 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Iran executes protest detainee over Basij base fire case". iranintl.com. 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Treasury Sanctions Two Judges Who Penalize Iranians for Exercising Freedoms of Expression and Assembly". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2026-02-13. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Iran executes 19-year-old December protest detainee Amirhossein Hatami". Hengaw. April 2, 2026. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Iran hangs 18-year-old over protests in latest wartime execution: activists". France 24. 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ iranprotests (2026-04-02). "THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC HAS EXECUTED AMIRHOSSEIN HATAMI". IRAN PROTESTS. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Iran refuses to return body of executed teen protester to family". Iran International. 2026-04-06. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
- ↑ "Iran: Seven protesters and dissidents at risk of imminent execution after four men arbitrarily executed in secret within 24 hours". Amnesty International. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-04-03.