“Wave of executions in the shadow of the Middle East war in Iran”
To civil society,
The Islamic government of Iran has accelerated the movement of its killing machinery, this time in the media shadow of the war in the Middle East. In recent days, several people have been led to the gallows, including 33-year-old Kamran Rezaie in Adelabad prison (participant of a protest movement) in Shiraz, Sunni prisoner Ayoub Karimi in Karaj after 14 years in prison, 17-year-old Hamidreza Azari, 21-year-old Milad Zohrevand, 46-year-old Zarkhatovan Mazarzehi from the Baloch minority, 62-year-old Ali Saber Motlagh (political prisoner from the 1960s) in Rasht. At least five other people have been executed for other reasons during these days. At least 700 people have been executed since the beginning of the year. Jamshid Shahrmand, who has German citizenship, was sentenced to death in the spring and is awaiting execution. Under the Raisi government, the number of executions has doubled since 2021. The aim is to paralyze the protesting society through fear.
We call on the international community to remain vigilant and protest against the Islamic government’s blatant human rights violations, regardless of how horrific the war in the Middle East and Ukraine is. The inhumane executions in Iran must not be condoned. All Iranian leaders, from Ali Khamenei to President Raisi to the Revolutionary Guards and their affiliated organizations, who encourage and endorse the executions, are responsible for these state-ordered killings.
Respect for universal human rights demands that this issue is also taken into account in bilateral state relations with Iranian politicians. Free media have a responsibility to report on executions in Iran. Every single case is too many, but according to reports, almost three people are currently executed every day in Iran. Let’s break the silence!
Vienna, 02.12.2023
Prof. Dr. Siroos Mirzaei
Medical Professionals for Human Rights in Iran – Austria
Dr. Behrouz Bayat
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran
Also supported by „ ISDO“, (International Secular Democratic Organisation)