It happens at dawn. Usually, before the city of Karaj or Mashhad really wakes up, a crane is parked in a public square. It’s a utilitarian piece of construction equipment, but in this context, it’s the centerpiece of a state ritual. People gather. Some bring their kids. Others record on their phones. This is the reality of public execution in iran, a practice that remains one of the most controversial and visceral aspects of the country's judicial system.
Honestly, when you read about these events in Western media, they’re often framed as a relic of medieval times. But that’s a bit of a simplification. These aren't just "old-fashioned" punishments; they are deliberate, modern political tools used by the Islamic Republic to broadcast power.
Why Public Squares?
You’ve probably wondered why a government would want its citizens—including children—to watch a man die. It’s about the "chilling effect." Human rights organizations like Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Amnesty International have spent decades documenting how these displays are used to instill a specific kind of fear.
The legal basis often falls under Qesas (retribution in kind) or Moharebeh (enmity against God). Moharebeh is the big one. It's a broad, vaguely defined charge often used against political dissidents or those accused of armed rebellion. If the state wants to make an example of someone, they don't just hang them in the shadows of Evin Prison. They take them to the streets.
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The Logistics of a Crane Hanging
It’s grim.
In many countries that still use the death penalty, the process is clinical. Lethal injection or a "long drop" hanging designed to break the neck instantly. In Iran, public hangings often involve a "short drop" or a slow hoist by a crane. This isn't about a quick death. It's about strangulation. It can take several minutes.
The use of industrial cranes—often Japanese or European brands like Tadano—became so synonymous with these executions that it actually sparked international trade debates. Activists pressured crane manufacturers to stop exporting to Iran because their equipment was being repurposed for the gallows.
The 2022 Protests and the Shift in Strategy
Things changed after Jina Mahsa Amini died.
The "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement pushed the Iranian judiciary into high gear. While the majority of executions in Iran happen behind closed doors—mostly for drug-related offenses—the public ones are reserved for cases that the state deems "security-related."
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Take the case of Majidreza Rahnavard. In December 2022, he was hanged from a crane in a street in Mashhad. It was barely a month after his arrest. No long appeals. No transparency. The state released photos of his body hanging as a warning to those participating in the protests.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just about politics.
A huge chunk of the Iranian public is actually horrified by this. You’ll see videos of crowds shouting at the executioners, or families of victims being begged by the public to "grant pardon" at the last second. Under Iranian law, in murder cases, the victim’s family has the power to stop the execution by accepting "blood money" (Diya). It’s a high-stakes, real-life drama that plays out in front of hundreds of people.
The Statistics Nobody Talks About
If we look at the numbers from 2023 and 2024, the rate of executions skyrocketed.
- Drug offenses: These make up the bulk of the "secret" executions.
- Public displays: These have actually fluctuated. Sometimes the government dials them back when international pressure gets too hot, or when they want to negotiate a nuclear deal.
- Minorities: If you are Baluch or Kurdish, the statistical likelihood of facing the death penalty in Iran is significantly higher.
Basically, the judiciary uses the death penalty as a pressure valve. When the regime feels threatened, the cranes come out.
The Psychological Impact on Society
What does it do to a neighborhood when the local park becomes an execution ground?
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Psychologists who study Iranian society point to a "desensitization to violence." When you see a body hanging on your way to get bread, it changes your brain chemistry. It creates a society where the threat of ultimate violence is always hovering in the background.
Yet, there is a counter-movement. Groups like Step by Step to Abolish the Death Penalty (LEGAM) have tried to work within the Iranian legal system to change these laws. Many of their members end up in prison themselves. Names like Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, have spent years fighting this from inside a cell.
Common Misconceptions
One big mistake people make is thinking this is strictly about "Sharia Law."
While the terminology is religious, the application is deeply political. Many Islamic scholars outside (and some inside) Iran argue that the way the state applies these punishments doesn't actually align with the spirit of the religion, which emphasizes mercy and rigorous evidence. In Iran, "confessions" are often extracted under torture and then broadcast on state TV before the trial even begins.
What Actually Happens Next?
If you’re looking to understand where this is headed, keep an eye on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Their Fact-Finding Mission on Iran has been documenting these executions as potential crimes against humanity.
International pressure does work, but only to a point. It’s a game of leverage. When the world is looking elsewhere—like at conflicts in Gaza or Ukraine—the execution numbers in Iran tend to spike because the "political cost" of a hanging goes down.
Practical Ways to Track and Support
If this is a topic you care about, don't just look at the headlines. The situation is more nuanced than "good guys vs. bad guys." It's a complex legal and social struggle.
- Follow the specialized monitors. Organizations like Abdorrahman Boroumand Center maintain huge databases of every person executed. They name them. They give them back their humanity.
- Understand the "Pardon" Culture. Support organizations that help families of victims choose Diya (blood money) over Qesas (execution). This is one of the few ways people are legally stopping hangings on the ground.
- Pressure the Tech and Equipment Providers. The technology used to monitor protesters and the equipment used in public hangings often comes from foreign subsidiaries. Corporate accountability is a real lever here.
- Support Digital Rights. Many of the "public" aspects of these executions are now digital—state-sponsored "confession" videos. Helping Iranians bypass internet censors allows them to document the truth of these trials in real-time.
The practice of public execution in iran isn't just a grim curiosity. It’s a central pillar of how the current state maintains control. Understanding the difference between the "religious" justification and the political reality is the first step in seeing the situation for what it actually is: a struggle for the soul of a country.