 According to Amnesty International, the Shah carried out at least 300 political executions.Torture was used to locate arms caches, safe houses and accomplices of the guerrillas, in addition to its possible ability to persuade enemies of the state to become supporters, instead.In 1975, the human rights group Amnesty International whose membership and international influence grew greatly during the 1970s

During the 1978–79 overthrow of the Pahlavi government, protestors were fired upon by troops and prisoners were executed.