Criticism of 'Alarming' Increase in Executions in Iran; Human Rights Watch: Death Sentences Must Be Abolished

"Human Rights Watch" reported on Tuesday, August 30, about an "alarming increase" in executions in Iran and called for the abolition of death sentences. According to this organization, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic executed at least 87 individuals in the month following the recent government presidential elections in Iran. One of those executed was Reza Rasayi, a protester from Shahin Shahr in Kermanshah province and a follower of the Yarsan faith, who was arrested during the nationwide 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests in Iran in 2022. These protests began following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. Human Rights Watch reported that in addition to the wave of executions following the recent government elections, the Islamic Republic executed 29 individuals in two prisons on August 7; 26 in Qazalhesar prison and 3 in Karaj Central prison. The report states that 17 were executed for "premeditated murder," 7 for "drug-related offenses," and 2 Afghan nationals for "sexual assault." Human Rights Watch has documented serious violations of judicial procedures and unfair trials in the courts of the Islamic Republic for years. Nahid Naghashbandi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated: "While Iranian officials trumpet the recent presidential elections as evidence of real change, they are carrying out numerous executions." She added: "For these promotional slogans to be meaningful, Masoud Pezeshkian, the new president of Iran, must immediately intervene to abolish existing death sentences, suspend the death penalty, and take steps to reform the judiciary." The Islamic Republic has long used the death penalty extensively, including in response to protests where demonstrators were pursued and executed for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Human Rights Watch opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances due to its inherent cruelty. The Iran Human Rights Organization reported that the Islamic Republic executed at least 249 individuals in the first six months of the current calendar year, with 147 related to drug offenses. Amnesty International also reported that the Islamic Republic was responsible for 74% of all recorded executions worldwide last year. The executed included ethnic minorities, especially Baluchis, women, and individuals who were minors at the time of the crime. Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam: The Islamic Republic executes one person in prisons every six hours. A letter from 50 civil and political activists to Biden: "Impose heavy and comprehensive sanctions on the Iranian government." The execution of eight prisoners in Yazd and Shiraz prisons continues the trend of carrying out death sentences in Iranian prisons. The UN fact-finding committee regarding Iran considered the government's behavior against Sharifeh Mohammadi as a "violation of human rights." New charges have been brought against Pakhshan Aziz, a political prisoner sentenced to death.