Kaveh Panahi and Ali Neirang Hanged for “Enmity Against God”

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Yazd Central Prison on 7 January 2026. Their identities have been established as Kaveh Panahi and Ali Neirang, two men arrested in the same case around three years ago. They were sentenced to death on moharebeh charges by the Revolutionary Court. It is not clear what offences they were accused of committing.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Article 279 of the IPC defines moharebeh (enmity against God) as: “drawing a weapon on the life, property or honour of the public or causing them terror, in a way that creates an environment of insecurity.” When a person draws a weapon on one or several specific individuals with personal motives, but their action does not have a public element, and also a person who draws a weapon on the public but does not create an atmosphere of insecurity due to their incompetence, they shall not be considered a mohareb (person who commits moharebeh).

Article 281 of the IPC stipulates that “bandits, robbers and smugglers who resort to arms and disrupt the security of the public and roads, shall be considered mohareb.”

Article 282 of the IPC sanctions the death penalty in cases of moharebeh. However, power is granted to judges to impose the alternative punishments of crucifixion, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or domestic exile away from the defendant’s hometown.

Moharebeh charges are used to impose death sentences for a wide range of offences. They include armed robbery and espionage, and they have also been used against political prisoners affiliated with opposition groups, as well as protesters.