Two American lawmakers strongly condemned the increase in executions in Iran as a 'direct order from Ali Khamenei'

Steve Cohen and Tom McClintock, Republican lawmakers and co-chairs of the Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued a statement on Monday, May 6, condemning the increase in executions in Iran as a 'direct order from Ali Khamenei.' According to them, the alarming escalation of state violence by the Islamic Republic demonstrates the Iranian government's blatant disregard for the right to life and international human rights norms. These two Republican lawmakers stated that the Iranian government's aim in executing 'at least 37 people in the last 10 days' is to instill fear among the Iranian people and suppress any dissent. They specifically pointed to executions carried out in Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, Gonbad Kavus, Tabriz, and Arak, deeming this pattern of the Islamic Republic not only reprehensible but indicative of a systematic effort by the regime to suppress any form of dissent or criticism. Steve Cohen and Tom McClintock further described the increase in violence against Iranian women and girls as concerning. They noted that following the protests over the 'murder' of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini by the morality police, the situation in Iran has continuously become more dangerous, with numerous instances of extreme violence and mistreatment against women and girls for their refusal to wear hijabs in the manner preferred by the Islamic Republic. These two Republican lawmakers asserted their support for the Iranian people's right to live in a society free from fear and repression and their right to express opposition to executions. The co-chairs of the Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus called on the international community, especially the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights organizations worldwide, to condemn these heinous actions of the Islamic Republic. They further demanded immediate action to address the 'ruthless campaign' of the Islamic Republic to intimidate Iranians and urged the Biden administration to utilize all available diplomatic and economic tools to hold the Iranian government accountable. Steve Cohen and Tom McClintock concluded their statement by emphasizing that the Islamic Republic must realize that its actions will not go without consequences and that the international community will not remain silent. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has repeatedly criticized the Islamic Republic for human rights violations and the issuance of death sentences for critics and opponents. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, condemned the death sentence issued for Iranian rapper Tomaj Salehi last week and called for his immediate release, stating in a post on social media platform X: 'Tomaj's voice amplifies the hopes of the Iranian people and all those silenced by the Iranian regime.' The Hengaw human rights organization recently reported a more than 300% increase in executions in Iran last month compared to the previous month. According to this report, at least 77 prisoners, including three women and one Kurdish religious prisoner, were executed in April in the Islamic Republic's prisons. This figure represents a 328% increase compared to the execution of 18 prisoners in March. The Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi to death on charges of 'corruption on earth.' In a recent report by the American PEN Association, Iran maintained its position as the largest prison for female writers in the world. Lawyer for Saman Yasin: The necessary medical documents for my client's release have not been sent to the court. Censorship index: No one is safe from the repression of protests in the Islamic Republic. Protest statement from over 460 'Iran-Iraq War veterans': Instead of Tomajs, execute us. The Deputy Minister threatened 'blogger teachers': Girls and boys are reading books 'Unfiltered with Hijab' and 'A Van of Doubt.' The series of restrictions continues; women were banned from entering the stadium during the Persepolis vs. Nassaji match. Over 230 political and social activists called for a transition to democracy and the separation of religion and state. Clerics resorted to Iranian myths to justify compulsory hijab; Alamolhoda stated that hijab is reflected in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.