Thousands of protesters, dissidents, and political prisoners in Iran have faced arbitrary detention, torture, and execution.

Omissions

• The claim groups arbitrary detention, torture, and execution under a single 'thousands' quantifier. While thousands have indeed been arbitrarily detained and tortured, the specifically documented number of protesters, dissidents, and political prisoners executed is in the dozens (at least 78 at imminent risk according to Amnesty International), not thousands. The 1,639 total executions in Iran in 2025 cover all categories of offenses, not only political cases.
• The speaker cited no source for the claim, reducing verifiability. The session date (2026-05-20) aligns closely with the Amnesty International report of May 2026, which the MEP may have been referencing.

Sources

• PrimaryAmnesty InternationalIranian authorities are using the cover of what they call 'wartime conditions' to intensify their repression of dissent through mass arbitrary arrests and executions. The report documents mass arbitrary arrests of protesters and dissidents, and political executions.
• PrimaryHuman Rights WatchIran's authorities have waged a brutal campaign to terrorize the population through mass arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances. The report documents a 'tsunami' of arbitrary arrests targeting protesters and dissidents.
• PrimaryAmnesty International USAThousands of people arbitrarily detained in relation to the nationwide uprising in Iran are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence.
• PrimaryECPM / Iran Human RightsAt least 1,639 executions in Iran in 2025, a deadly record. The report is the 18th Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, published jointly by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and ECPM.