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Friday, 29 November 2024
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Executions in Iran: A Tool for Intensifying Repression and Continuing Religious Tyranny
إيران

**Unprecedented Rise in Executions in Iran; Serious Concerns About Human Rights**  
New reports indicate that executions in Iran reached an unprecedented high during October 2024. According to the "Iran Human Rights Monitor," 178 people were executed in that month, marking the highest monthly count in more than two decades. This surge in executions under the presidency of Massoud Behzadian has raised serious concerns regarding the escalation of judicial repression and the deteriorating state of human rights in Iran. Behzadian took office during a period marked by widespread social discontent. Reports indicate that in October alone, executions occurred at a rate of one execution every four hours, alarming the international community about the future of human rights in Iran. Many human rights advocates have warned that this increase in executions could lead to widespread social harm, particularly affecting vulnerable groups and society as a whole.

**Execution of Minors; A Gross Violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and International Standards**  
Reports show that most of the executions carried out in October were related to drug-related offenses, with the defendants often coming from poor and marginalized communities. Among those executed were individuals from ethnic and religious minorities, including Baluchis, Kurds, and even members of the Jewish faith. One example is the execution of the young Jewish man "Arvin Ghahramani," who was arrested for murder during a fight at the age of 18. Despite the ambiguity surrounding his trial proceedings and his family's pleas to halt the execution, he was executed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah. Additionally, multiple cases of the execution of minors were reported, highlighting Iran's deviation from international human rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Another notable case was the execution of the minor "Mahdi Barahoui," who was only 17 years old at the time of the alleged crime. Such executions represent a clear violation of international human rights standards, demonstrating that the current judicial procedures in Iran, under the presidency of Massoud Behzadian, are characterized by increasing severity.

**Jamshid Shahramd and the Death Sentence for "Corruption on Earth"; International Protests Against Iranian Judicial Procedures**  
Another instance of these brutal executions is the execution of political prisoner "Jamshid Shahramd," who was kidnapped by Iranian intelligence agents from Dubai on August 1, 2020, and transferred to Iran. After a sham trial, he was sentenced to death for "corruption on earth and waging war against God," and the sentence was carried out at dawn on October 28, 2024. In this context, the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement denouncing the abductions and executions of those kidnapped by the bloodthirsty Iranian regime. Ms. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the Iranian resistance, called on the governments of Germany, Sweden, and France to demand accountability for the Iranian regime in the UN Security Council regarding three kidnapping cases that ended in execution and demanded accountability for these crimes. She added that for four years, the Iranian resistance had called on the governments of Sweden, France, and Germany to intervene to prevent these crimes, emphasizing the necessity of government oversight on kidnapping cases and the return of hostages Farajollah Khabazi Asiyoud, Jamshid Shahramd, and Rouhollah Zam to their home countries.

**International Reactions; Warnings from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights**  
The increase in executions in Iran has led to widespread international reactions. In the 79th session of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Dr. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, warned of this trend and made explicit criticisms regarding the state of human rights in Iran. Sato emphasized that the imposition of sanctions cannot justify violating the fundamental rights of Iranian citizens. She continuously provided reports on the state of human rights in Iran through her account on X (@drmaisato), calling for an end to the excessive use of the death penalty. Sato specifically pointed out the impact of these executions on religious and ethnic minorities as well as on youth and women, asserting that the current trend in Iran cannot be accepted as a legal and humane measure. She demanded transparency in judicial proceedings and an end to the use of the death penalty for non-violent crimes, including drug-related offenses.

**Silencing Executions; A Means to Instill Fear and Suppress Opposition Voices**  
Many of the executions carried out in recent months were not publicly announced but occurred in media silence. This cover-up of executions not only fosters further fear and insecurity in society but also raises concerns about government transparency and accountability. The lack of accurate public information about these executions has heightened anxiety regarding human rights and kept Iranian authorities shielded from international criticism. It is important to note that in the religious dictatorship ruling Iran.

**Mir Mohammadi System**