Statement from Hundreds of Civil and Human Rights Activists Against Widespread Executions in Iran

Hundreds of families of victims and civil and human rights activists in Iran issued a statement criticizing the execution of over 250 individuals since the rise of the government of Masoud Pezeshkian, highlighting the "increasing implementation of death sentences in Iran over the past two years." The statement, signed by numerous civil, human rights, and political organizations, emphasized that "there is not a day that we do not witness an average of five executions in Iran." The signatories expressed "deep concern and regret over the unprecedented rise in executions," urging people inside and outside Iran to demonstrate through "participation in protest gatherings and raising their voices" to show the world their demand for an end to executions and respect for human rights in Iran. They referenced the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners Vrisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, calling on human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Human Rights Council to "increase pressure on the Islamic government to halt death sentences by continuously monitoring the situation of prisoners in Iran." The statement also called on various governments and international bodies to use all diplomatic and legal tools to pressure the Islamic Republic and prevent state-sponsored killings by this government. The signatories emphasized that following the "murder of Jamshid Sharmard, a German-American citizen," the closure of three Iranian consulates in Germany was "a positive step towards responding to the executions." Among the signatories are Azardokht Haqjouyan (mother of Reza Rasai), Ameneh Ghaderi (mother of Zanyar Moradi), Akram Naqabi (mother of Saeed Zinali), Bayan Azimi (wife of Pejman Fatehi), Huriyeh Farghzadeh (sister of Shahram Farghzadeh), Khatereh Moieni, Sharifeh Hosseinpanahi (mother of Ramin Hosseinpanahi), Rahimeh Youssefzadeh (mother of Navid Behboudi), Zahra Karimi (mother of Mohammad Rasool Momenizadeh), Shoaleh Pakrovan (mother of Reyhaneh Jabbari), Shahnaz Akmali (mother of Mostafa Karimbeigi), Azamat Azhdari, Efat Mahbaz, Fatemeh Golgazi (mother of Afshin Asanlou), Fatemeh Mojtabai (mother of Ghazaleh Chehlavi), Mahbubeh Ramazani (mother of Pejman Gholipour), Mohammad Karimbeigi (father of Mostafa Karimbeigi), Mahsa Pirayi (daughter of Minou Majidi), Ladan and Laleh Bazargan, and Ladan Boroumand. Groups of Iranians in Sweden protested against the issuance of death sentences in Iran. Human rights groups reported that October was the deadliest month with at least 166 executions recorded. The death sentences of six protesters raised reactions: "The children of Ekbatan are on the list of state killings." Warnings were issued regarding "Tuesdays of No to Executions"; the "savage" executions during the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising were noted. The Iranian Writers' Association stated that the government's behavior towards the victims' families indicates desperation. Political female prisoners in Evin stated that the issuance of death sentences is a means of settling scores with the people.