An IBA webinar
Recent months have seen a dramatic rise in political killings in Iran. As a result, in December, the media reported that in 2025, the Iranian regime had killed 1,922 people – more than twice as many as the year before. Amid mounting political repression in the country, the regime has been resorting to executions en masse to silence any opposition that may remain. The new wave of mass executions is reminiscent of the 1988 prison massacres in which thousands of political dissidents were secretly executed. Such mass executions meet the legal definition of crimes against humanity and should be treated as such in the responses deployed by States and the international community.
In January 2026, Iran plunged into an internet blackout as protests spread nationwide, with people calling for regime change. The protests have been met with violence and killings, with the estimated deaths varying between hundreds and thousands of people, and the exact numbers difficult to ascertain. Thousands of people are said to be detained and facing the death penalty for their involvement in protests, and there’s a high risk that 2026 will become the deadliest year on record.
During the session, speakers will discuss the growing number of executions in the country and their chilling effect on the population, and the nationwide protests that continue to spread. As political prisoners in Iran are unlikely to see any justice and accountability in the country, it is key to explore other options, including legal steps using the principle of universal jurisdiction, diplomatic paths through the United Nations, among others. The speakers will assess these options and explain what other avenues are available and should be attempted.
As we are limited to 1,000 registrants, we request that you please only register for this event if you will be attending.
