Iran’s escalating state repression: Systemic use of executions to crush dissent amid 2022-2024 protest crackdown

Iran’s protest movement draws on deep cultural traditions of resistance, including poetic dissent (e.g., Forough Farrokhzad, Ahmad Shamlu) and Sufi mysticism, which frame martyrdom as a spiritual act. The regime’s executions seek to erase these cultural narratives by criminalizing them as 'anti-revolutionary.' Traditional knowledge systems, such as Zoroastrian ethics of justice, are suppressed in favor of state-controlled interpretations of Sharia. The erasure of indigenous Persian cultural memory is a tool of authoritarian consolidation.

Iran’s current wave of repression echoes historical patterns of state violence, including the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners and the 2009 Green Movement crackdown. The use of secret trials and arbitrary sentencing mirrors tactics from the Pahlavi era (1925–1979), when dissent was crushed under martial law. Globally, authoritarian regimes often escalate repression during periods of economic crisis, as seen in Chile under Pinochet or Egypt under Sisi. The 2022-2024 protests represent the latest iteration of a century-long struggle between state control and civil society.

Across authoritarian regimes, executions are used to suppress dissent and maintain power, from China’s Uyghur camps to Myanmar’s military junta. In all cases, the state frames dissent as 'terrorism' to justify violence, a tactic Iran has refined through its Revolutionary Guards’ control of judiciary and media. However, Iran’s use of executions also reflects a unique cultural dynamic: the regime’s claim to Islamic legitimacy, which it weaponizes to silence critics. Comparatively, secular authoritarian states (e.g., North Korea) rely more on disappearances than public executions to avoid international backlash.

Research on authoritarian repression shows that extrajudicial killings are most effective when combined with mass arrests, media blackouts, and economic coercion, as seen in Iran. Studies indicate that such tactics reduce protest participation by 30–50% in the short term but often fuel long-term radicalization. The regime’s use of secret trials violates international law (e.g., ICCPR Article 14) and undermines judicial independence, a hallmark of democratic backsliding. Forensic evidence from past executions (e.g., 1988 mass graves) suggests systematic coordination between judiciary, intelligence, and prison systems.

Art and spirituality have long been subversive tools in Iran, from classical poets like Hafez to modern filmmakers like Jafar Panahi. The regime’s executions target artists and intellectuals to erase these cultural forms of resistance, as seen in the 2022–2023 crackdown on musicians and painters. Sufi traditions, which emphasize inner freedom, are particularly threatening to the state’s control over religious narrative. The use of executions to silence dissent also reflects a spiritual crisis: the regime’s claim to divine authority is undermined by its reliance on violence.

If the current repression continues, Iran risks a prolonged cycle of state violence and societal fragmentation, similar to Syria’s trajectory post-2011. The regime’s reliance on executions may temporarily suppress dissent but could trigger a generational shift toward more radical forms of resistance. Regional actors (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE) may exploit the instability to expand influence, while Western powers could face a dilemma: prioritize human rights or geopolitical stability. Long-term, Iran’s youth bulge (60% under 30) and digital connectivity could undermine the regime’s control, as seen in the 2022 protests’ use of Telegram and Instagram.

The executions disproportionately target marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities (e.g., Kurds, Baloch, Arabs) and women’s rights activists, who face compounded discrimination. LGBTQ+ individuals and religious minorities (e.g., Baha’is, Christians) are also at heightened risk, as the regime uses executions to enforce its interpretation of Sharia. The international community’s focus on 'political' dissidents often overlooks these communities, despite their central role in the protest movement. Grassroots networks, such as the 'White Wednesdays' campaign, highlight the intersectional nature of the struggle.