Execution of 23 Individuals in 5 Days; Human Rights Organization: Risk of Execution for Political Prisoner Reza Rasayi Exists

Iran Human Rights Organization reported, citing sources close to the family of Reza Rasayi, a detained protester in Iran, about the imminent risk of his execution in the coming days. On Friday, April 26, the organization highlighted that 23 individuals were executed in various prisons across Iran over a span of five days, warning of a significant increase in executions in recent weeks. The organization called for the halt and annulment of the death sentence for Reza Rasayi and other political prisoners, urging the international community to adopt a 'decisive and sustainable' policy to stop daily executions in Iran. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghadam, the director of Iran Human Rights Organization, stated that raising the political cost of executions is the only way to prevent the execution of Reza Rasayi and other prisoners on death row. The second branch of the Criminal Court of Kermanshah Province sentenced 34-year-old Reza Rasayi, arrested in the city of 'Shahneh', to death for the alleged murder of Nader Birami, the head of the intelligence department in that city, and this sentence was confirmed by the 17th branch of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. Rasayi has denied the accusation in court. Previously, an eyewitness from the scene of Nader Birami's death told Voice of America that in the published footage from the scene of the conflict, 'Reza is not in any of the videos' and 'when Reza arrives,' Birami is 'half-dead, and people are gathered around him looking, and Reza is one of the people standing there watching.' In recent days, human rights and civil activists have strongly protested the death sentence issued for Tomaj Salehi, warning about the potential execution of several political prisoners such as Mojahid Korkor, Habib Daris, Reza Rasayi, and Abbas Daris, who were arrested during recent protests. 'Dadban' had previously reported on the legal flaws in Reza Rasayi's case, including reliance on coerced testimony from other defendants against him in exchange for freedom or reduced punishment, ignoring testimonies from several defendants in favor of Rasayi, disregarding the forensic expert's opinion (including that the fatal wound did not match the characteristics of the knife attributed to Reza), and the court's reliance on 'the judge's knowledge' to prove guilt, which are among the fundamental flaws in the verdict. According to published reports, Reza Rasayi was tortured to confess, and other defendants in the case also testified under torture. Earlier, a knowledgeable source told the 'Dadban' legal group that 'the victim's family has stated they do not seek retribution and are not even clear that Reza Rasayi is the killer. However, they say it is not in our hands, and our consent is of no use; talk to the IRGC.' The report from Iran Human Rights Organization stated that the heirs of the victim (Birami's family) have called for the execution of Rasayi to be carried out. Reza (Gholam-Reza) Rasayi, a 34-year-old protester and follower of the 'Ahl-e Haq' (Yarsan) faith in the city of 'Shahneh' in Kermanshah Province, holds a bachelor's degree in business management but was engaged in beekeeping and honey sales before his arrest. The Islamic Republic's judicial system has recently attracted severe global criticism with the issuance of a death sentence for Tomaj Salehi, a protest singer. In recent days, human rights activists have strongly protested this ruling, warning about the potential execution of several political prisoners like Mojahid Korkor, Habib Daris, and Abbas Daris, who were arrested during recent protests.