At Least 87 People Executed in Iran in the Month Following Presidential Elections

The Iran Human Rights Organization, a non-governmental human rights entity based in Norway, announced that at least 87 people were executed in the country's prisons in the month following the presidential elections, from mid-July to mid-August. Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam, the director of this organization, stated in a statement on Wednesday, August 8, that 'the Islamic Republic is exploiting the world's attention on the tensions between this government and Israel to carry out mass executions of prisoners and intensify the atmosphere of repression in Iran.' He added, 'Without an immediate reaction from the international community, hundreds could fall victim to the Islamic Republic's killing machine in the coming months.' The director of the Iran Human Rights Organization urged all countries that have diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic to 'respond to these crimes and prevent further atrocities.' On Wednesday, human rights news sources reported that the death sentences of at least 20 prisoners on 'non-political' charges were carried out only in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. Human rights sources: At least 20 prisoners were executed on Wednesday in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj. The Iran Human Rights Organization reported that the number of executed individuals on that day was '29 prisoners' and wrote: 'The death sentences of 26 men in Gohardasht Prison and three other men in the central prison of Karaj (detention center) were carried out collectively.' According to this report, among them were two Afghan nationals and one Baluch citizen. The human rights website HRANA reported that three Afghans were executed and added that seven of the executed were 'Sunni Muslims.' The executed individuals were mainly sentenced to death for charges such as 'premeditated murder,' 'drug offenses,' and 'rape.' An informed source told the Iran Human Rights Organization that 'a total of 17 individuals were sentenced to death for premeditated murder, seven for drug-related offenses, and two for rape.' This organization emphasized that the mass execution of 26 prisoners in one day in a single prison is 'unprecedented' in the last two decades, with the last mass execution at this level occurring on July 2, 2009, amid the popular protests of the 'Green Movement.' Iran has the highest rate of executions in the world relative to its population. Human rights organizations, including the Iran Human Rights Organization, had previously warned about the risk of increased executions following the recent presidential elections in Iran. Prisoners of the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign also stated in a statement that the number of executions increases after each election in Iran. Furthermore, Mr. Amiri Moghaddam explained: 'The officials of the Islamic Republic reduce the implementation of death sentences to encourage people to participate in elections. However, past experiences show that immediately after elections, the government reminds the people of its reality with a sharp increase in execution statistics.' Human Rights Watch: Pezeshkian should start with stopping death sentences for 'real changes.' In late July, Human Rights Watch condemned the issuance of a death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor rights activist in Iran, and urged Masoud Pezeshkian to start his work for 'real changes' by stopping death sentences. According to a report by Amnesty International, at least 853 people were executed in Iran in 2023, 48% more than the previous year, which the organization attributed to 'the Iranian government's efforts to spread fear and terror among the people regarding the consequences of protesting against the regime.' With this trend continuing, the United Nations Human Rights Council based in Geneva extended the mandate of its Special Rapporteur on Iran on April 4.