Opposition to New Wave of Executions in Iran; Protesters Gather in Tehran and Several Cities Worldwide

Protests against the new wave of executions in Iran have gained broader dimensions. On Saturday, students from Beheshti University in Tehran and Iranians in various cities around the world gathered in different protests against the Islamic Republic authorities and the 'machine of repression and execution' of dissenters. According to citizen reports on Saturday, May 30, dozens of students from Beheshti University in northern Tehran held a protest against the execution of three young protesters in Isfahan, chanting: 'By the blood of our comrades, we stand until the end.' At the same time, video reports of gatherings of Iranians in various parts of the world, including in cities like Auckland in New Zealand, and Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, were published on social media. Additionally, according to a citizen report, a group of Iranians residing in Europe gathered to hold a protest in Gothenburg, Sweden. Protesters at these gatherings shouted slogans in Persian and English, including 'Death to the Islamic Republic,' 'Execution Republic, enemy of every Iranian,' 'By the blood of our comrades, we stand until the end,' and 'We want freedom for Iran.' On Friday, following the execution of Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashimi, and Saeed Yaqoubi, three protesters accused of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God) in the 'Isfahan House' case, various protests and gatherings formed in cities across Iran and the world. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in a written response to the Persian section of Voice of America regarding the Biden administration's reaction to the execution of the three accused in the 'Isfahan House' case, stated: 'We condemn the execution of Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashimi, and Saeed Yaqoubi by the Iranian regime in the strongest possible terms and share in the grief of the families of these three individuals.' Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, expressed condolences to the families and friends of the three executed protesters, calling the Islamic Republic 'unconscionable' and tweeted: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran uses the death penalty to instill fear and suppress dissent.' In addition to the deaths of over 500 individuals during the nationwide protests that erupted after the killing of Mahsa Amini in custody by the morality police in late September 2022, the Islamic Republic has executed three other protesters named Mohsen Shekari, Majidreza Rahnavard, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, and Mohammad Hosseini prior to this. An open letter from the National Union for Democracy in Iran addressed to the U.S. Congress condemning the executions in Iran. A UN fact-finding mission: Any execution without a 'fair trial' is a clear violation of international law. Abolfazl Ghadiani: Ali Khamenei and his repressive agents are still thirsty for blood. A group of UN experts: The Islamic Republic must stop the 'terrifying wave of executions.' A representative from the German Parliament to Voice of America: The Islamic Republic has shown through its executions that it is only seeking terror.