Global Reactions to the Executions of Ghobadloo and Salimi; Calls for a 'Decisive Response' from the International Community Against the Islamic Republic

The execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi early on Tuesday, January 23, in Qazalhasar prison in Karaj by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, has sparked widespread reactions from human rights organizations, activists, and prominent political, artistic, and sports figures. The Iran Human Rights Organization condemned the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo 'in the strongest terms' and urged the global community to respond firmly to stop the Islamic Republic's execution machine. The Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation described the execution of Ghobadloo as an example of 'arbitrary and illegal execution' and emphasized that such an act is equivalent to 'premeditated murder' under current Iranian laws and criminal jurisprudence. Mark Wallace, Executive Director of the 'United Against Nuclear Iran' organization, called for swift action from the U.S. government against the Islamic Republic regime. He wrote on X: 'The corrupt Khamenei regime committed this crime while the Iranian Foreign Minister was in New York.' He called for the revocation of the visa and expulsion of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, stating: 'America's borders should not be open to the murderers of the Iranian people.' The non-profit organization 'National Union for Democracy in Iran' based in the U.S. wrote on X: 'This morning in Tehran, as the call to prayer sounded, Khamenei executed Mohammad Ghobadloo. He was a protester for freedom and human rights, and his punishment was hanging from the gallows.' This organization further addressed Ben Cardin, a Democratic senator from Maryland, stating that he 'is refraining from advancing the Mahsa Law to sanction Khamenei.' The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 'Mahsa Law' in September 2023 with 410 votes in favor and three against. If passed in the Senate, this law would require the government to sanction senior officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei, for 'suppressing the protests of the Iranian people' and 'violating human rights.' Masoud Ghara-Khani, an Iranian-born president of the Norwegian parliament, described Ghobadloo's execution as lacking 'legal certainty' and 'extreme brutality' in a message on social media, expressing condolences to his parents. Darya Safai, an Iranian-born member of the Belgian parliament, wrote on X that Ghobadloo was executed, but the spirit of the Iranian people will not rest, and they will strive for the regime's downfall. Ms. Safai stated: 'The world will be a safer place without these monsters,' and called for a response from the international community, noting that the Islamic Republic is a threat to global security. Dietmar Bartsch, a representative of the Left Party in the German parliament, reacted to a tweet from Mina Khani, who wrote to the international community: 'You have left us alone,' stating: 'You are not alone.' He said: 'The mullah regime is killing; Germany must increase pressure.' The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) also condemned this 'horrific violation of international human rights obligations' by the Islamic Republic on their X account, stating: 'We stand with all Iranians who remain unjustly detained as prisoners of conscience.' The judiciary of the Islamic Republic executed Mohammad Ghobadloo, a 23-year-old protester arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 in Tehran, and Farhad Salimi, a Sunni political prisoner, in Qazalhasar prison in Alborz province. Amnesty International had previously stated in a statement before the execution of Mr. Ghobadloo: 'The head of the judiciary must stop the arbitrary and illegal execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo, which has been suddenly scheduled for tomorrow. This young man, who has a mental disorder and was arrested amid the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, is based on confessions obtained under torture and has been conducted secretly.' Mohammad Ghobadloo was among those arrested during the nationwide protests last year in Iran, accused of 'corruption on earth' through 'extensive action against the motorcycle officers of the police force, resulting in the death of officer Farid Kermpour and injuring five police officers.' Amir Reisiian, Ghobadloo's lawyer, reported on Monday receiving the 'execution order' for this young protester, stating that his client was to be executed on Tuesday, January 23. Many figures, organizations, and social media users widely called for the halt of his execution. Dozens of political and ideological female prisoners in Evin are on hunger strike in protest against the executions. Reactions to the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo and Farhad Salimi: 'Retribution' by the Islamic Republic against the Iranian people. Reactions to the execution of Mohammad Ghobadloo: extrajudicial killing and crime; Khamenei must be held accountable. Two executions in one day; Hengaw: The Islamic Republic also executed Farhad Salimi.