Night Protest Outside Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan to Prevent Executions; Gunfire Directed at Protesters

With growing concerns over the imminent execution of three defendants in the "Isfahan House" case, a large number of protesters gathered in the early hours of Monday morning outside Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Meanwhile, images of government forces firing on protesters have been published. Some social media posts show groups of people moving towards Dastgerd Prison with the aim of preventing the execution of the protesters. Protesters also chanted slogans such as: "This is the last message, execute the uprising." Additionally, heavy traffic was reported on the road leading to Dastgerd Prison. As concerns about the imminent execution of three protesters in Isfahan grew, Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a warning of "immediate danger" and called on the people to gather outside Dastgerd Prison alongside the families of Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi. In the late hours of Sunday, April 24, he urged the people of Isfahan and nearby cities to join the families of these three imprisoned protesters. He emphasized: "Let us not allow the young-killer Zahak and his agents to take more innocent lives and leave more mothers in mourning." Human rights activist and opposition figure Masih Alinejad also tweeted a warning about the imminent execution of these three individuals, urging all compatriots to support these families in any way they can and not to allow the government to take more young lives and leave more families grieving. Domestic news sources in Iran, based on statements from judicial officials, warned the relatives of the defendants in the "Isfahan House" case about the potential imminent execution of Majid Kazemi, Saeed Yaghoubi, and Saleh Mirhashemi. These sources indicate that judicial officials met with Majid Kazemi's family on Sunday, April 24, and informed them that "they will be executed in just a few days," raising concerns about the likelihood of the execution. According to an audio file released on Sunday, April 24, Majid Kazemi, a condemned protester, stated, "I was under torture the whole time," and that he was threatened with being hanged alongside his brothers, Hussein and Mehdi, and told to "think about your family." This condemned protester emphasized that he had been subjected to "mental and physical torture" and claimed that during interrogation, he was told, "Help your family. We won't let go of your father and mother." Kazemi described the torture and threats of sexual assault in prison, stating that he told the judge that his confessions were coerced under torture and that "I swear to God I did nothing." He insisted on the falsehood of the charges against him, emphasizing that he was forced to confess under torture and threats, stating: "I worked until eight-thirty at night. Which group was I affiliated with? I am a merchant. I have a copper shop. I have no criminal record. What group? What party? What story?" The elderly mother of Saeed Yaghoubi also emphasized that her son was "working as a merchant." Meanwhile, a source informed VOA that Majid Kazemi's family was told that the three detained protesters would be executed within "the next two or three days." The source indicated that the families of Majid Kazemi and Saleh Mirhashemi suspect that their executions might occur "tonight" (Sunday evening or early Monday). Some news sources reported that the families of these three detained protesters had been threatened and forced into silence. During the protests on November 25 in the "Isfahan House" neighborhood, three Basij members named Mohsen Cheraghi, Mohsen Hamidi, and Mohammad Karimi were killed. Islamic Republic officials attributed their deaths to a "terrorist act." According to claims made in this case, based on "coerced confessions" against one another, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi were accused of "carrying weapons" and were charged with "moharebeh" (waging war against God). These three detained protesters have denied the charges against them in messages from prison, stating that they were forced to confess under torture. According to the verdict of the lower court, Saleh Mirhashemi was sentenced to two death penalties, while Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi each received one death penalty and ten years of imprisonment. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal for these three detained protesters and confirmed the death sentence for each of them. The issuance of these sentences has sparked widespread protests both inside and outside Iran.