22 Human Rights Organizations Call for Immediate Abolition of Executions in Iran

In response to recent political and security executions in Iran, 22 human rights organizations and ethnic groups have expressed concern over "confessions obtained under torture and months of solitary confinement," demanding an immediate halt to executions. Organizations such as the "International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran," "Boroumand Foundation," "Article 19," and the "World Coalition Against the Death Penalty," along with rights defenders for ethnic groups in Iran, including Arabs, Azerbaijanis, and Kurds, are among the signatories of a statement released on August 17. According to these organizations, "based on credible evidence, at least 24 Kurdish political prisoners" have been executed since July 11, "on the orders of judicial authorities and arbitrarily." Prior to this human rights organizations' statement, reports had emerged about a group execution where the Iranian judiciary accused them of engaging in "terrorist activities." Reports indicate that most of those executed were Kurdish and Sunni. Iranian officials have accused these individuals of targeting various ethnic and religious figures in their list of "terrorist activities," asserting that their executions are not related to religious beliefs. However, these executions have faced international criticism, highlighting concerns over "confessions obtained under torture" and "a trial process lacking transparency and justice." Currently, 22 human rights organizations state that "it is believed that many of these prisoners were forced to confess under torture and ultimately sentenced to moharebeh (waging war against God). Additionally, a significant number of them were held in solitary confinement for months, and in some cases for over two years, with their cases processed in unfair, opaque, and rushed courts." Their statement mentions that 20 of the recently executed prisoners were accused of "membership in the Tawhid and Jihad group," part of a larger group of 33 Kurdish and Sunni prisoners. According to these organizations and groups, "politically motivated executions are the greatest violators of the right to freedom of expression and belief, leading to an atmosphere of fear and increased restrictions on freedom of expression and self-censorship among individuals and groups." These 22 organizations have urged EU officials to demand the abolition of the death penalty during human rights dialogues with Iran and "to emphasize that Iran should, as a sign of goodwill, at least suspend all executions during the talks." Previous criticisms of recent executions in Iran have also faced relatively widespread reactions within the country, with officials such as the head of the judiciary and the foreign ministry spokesperson protesting these criticisms. In this context, three days after denial, news of the executions in Urmia was confirmed, along with the "summoning and interrogation" of several protesters against the execution of 20 prisoners in Iran. Implicit defense by the head of the judiciary of the executions of summer 67 has also been noted.