Increase in Executions by the Islamic Republic; U.S. Government Preparing Report on Human Rights Violators in Iran

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, responded to a Voice of America reporter on Thursday, July 26, regarding the 'reason for the non-implementation of the Mahsa Law,' stating, 'We are currently working seriously on a report of human rights violations in Iran, and as soon as it is ready, we will present it to Congress; however, due to some issues, we have not been able to meet the deadline set for drafting the report.' The Voice of America reporter reminded the State Department spokesperson of the execution orders issued for seven defendants in the case of the murder of the Imam of the Khalafaye Rashidin Mosque in Mahabad in recent months and days, noting that this law pertains to known individuals and does not require much time for investigation and identification of violators. However, Matthew Miller only replied, 'We are engaged in implementing this law.' According to the Mahsa Law, the U.S. State Department has 90 days after the law's approval to determine in its first report to Congress whether the criteria set forth in the law as 'human rights violators' include senior officials of the Islamic Republic, and if the result is positive, to identify these individuals. The 'Mahsa Amini Human Rights Accountability and Security Act,' commonly known as the 'Mahsa Law,' was signed into law by President Joe Biden on April 24, 2024. The Mahsa Law is specifically designed to sanction Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, the head of the Islamic Republic government, and individuals affiliated with the offices of these two. Gita Aryan, a senior reporter for the Persian section of Voice of America, primarily focuses on foreign policy news. She began her journalism career in 1987 with radio work and joined Voice of America in 2004. Political prisoners in Qezel Hessar prison also joined protests against the 'wave of executions.' Reactions to the execution of Kamran Sheikha: 'Extrajudicial killing' and 'illegal'; the Islamic Republic must be held accountable. An informed source: Pakhshan Azizi, a death-row inmate, has denied his charges. Three organizations have filed a complaint with the UN 'on behalf of the family' of Toumaj Salehi: The Islamic Republic is not adhering to its commitments. The Iranian government executed Kamran Sheikha, the seventh defendant in the case of the murder of an imam in Mahabad. Protests by several female prisoners in Evin against the death sentence of Pakhshan Azizi: 'We will stay in the prison yard.'