Human Rights Organization: The International Community Must Not Remain Silent on Iran's Execution Rate of One Every Five Hours

On Thursday, October 19, the Iran Human Rights Organization reported that the Islamic Republic executed 11 individuals at Qazal Hesar prison and one prisoner at the central prison of Zahedan, coinciding with World Day Against the Death Penalty (October 10). The organization's director stated that the global community, especially human rights-abiding governments with diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, should not remain silent in the face of an execution every five hours in Iran. According to this human rights organization, the number of executions has now risen to 531 since the beginning of this year. The organization once again urged 'awakened consciences and the international community' to not remain silent regarding daily executions in Iran and to make every effort to end these executions. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, said: 'The Islamic Republic, under the shadow of the threat of war with Israel and by exploiting the insufficient attention of the media and the global community and public opinion in Iran, has begun a widespread slaughter in Iranian prisons, where the victims are the weakest members of society condemned to death in the government’s kangaroo courts.' Amiri-Moghaddam noted that the purpose of the executions is 'to instill fear in society and ensure the survival of the regime,' adding: 'We and the people of Iran today need the solidarity and help of the global community and the global movement against the death penalty more than ever.' He emphasized: 'The international community, especially human rights-abiding governments that have diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, must not remain silent in the face of an execution every five hours in Iran.' The organization’s report on the executions of at least 531 individuals in Iran indicated that only 54 executions (10%) were announced by official sources of the Islamic Republic, while 477 executions (90%) were confirmed by the Iran Human Rights Organization through two independent unofficial sources. According to this report, 279 individuals were executed on drug-related charges and 218 on murder charges. Among the executed, 20 were sentenced to death on 'security' charges such as moharebeh (waging war against God), ifsad fil-arz (corruption on earth), and baghi (rebellion), with six of them executed on charges of 'spying for Israel.' Meanwhile, 18 women were among the executed (10 women for drug-related crimes and 8 for murder). Two child brides named Akhtar Ghorbanloo and Marjan Hajizadeh were also executed. Akhtar Ghorbanloo was sentenced to qisas (retribution) for killing her husband and was executed in Ahar prison. Marjan Hajizadeh was arrested on drug-related charges along with her husband. The report from the Iran Human Rights Organization also noted that 63 of the executed were Baluch citizens and 40 were Afghan nationals. October 10, 2024 (October 19, 1403) marks the 22nd year that this day has been designated by the 'World Coalition Against the Death Penalty' as the World Day Against the Death Penalty. The theme for 2024 is 'The death penalty protects no one. End executions immediately.'