Outrage is mounting after Iran executed 18-year-old musician Amirhossein Hatami, in a case that rights groups say highlights a sharp escalation in the country’s use of the death penalty.

Hatami, a guitarist, was hanged at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran on Wednesday, according to the Iranian judiciary. He had been arrested on January 8 during anti-government protests and was later convicted of moharebeh—“enmity against God”—a charge often used in political cases.

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Authorities alleged he carried out arson against a base linked to the Basij and acted against national security on behalf of foreign powers. State media said he had attacked a military site to seize weapons.

Rights groups strongly dispute that account. Amnesty International condemned the execution as “arbitrary,” saying Hatami was subjected to a “grossly unfair” trial that relied on forced confessions. He was reportedly held in prolonged solitary confinement and sentenced to death less than a month after his arrest.

His execution has intensified fears for other detainees. Reports indicate that several prisoners—including Mohammad Amin Biglari, Ali Fahim, Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, and Shahin Vahedparast Kolor—have been moved to pre-execution conditions, raising concerns they could be next.

Exiled former crown prince Reza Pahlavi accused Iranian authorities of using executions to “terrorize” the population, while advocacy groups warn that more cases are imminent.

According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights, the recent wave of executions signals an intensified crackdown. The group says multiple protesters and political prisoners have been executed in recent weeks, often following trials it describes as deeply flawed.

Opposition figures also point to a broader pattern. National Council of Resistance of Iran said at least 15 additional political prisoners have recently received death sentences, warning the situation could escalate further.

The executions come amid ongoing conflict involving Iran and heightened internal tensions. Analysts and activists say authorities may be using capital punishment to project control and deter dissent during a period of instability.

So far this year, at least 145 executions in Iran have been confirmed, with hundreds more reported but not independently verified, according to rights monitors.

Critics are urging international intervention, warning that without external pressure, more prisoners could face imminent execution in the coming weeks.