19/05/2023
The detainees in Iran are in danger of being executed at any moment
Calls for urgent action to stop executions in Iran
On the night of 17 May 2023 families of three detainees sentenced to execution gathered outside of the prison, where these detainees are currently being held, in Isfahan. Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi, and Saeid Yaqoubi were arrested during the widespread protests in 2022. They were tortured and forced to make false confessions of killing two Basiji militia forces. They could be executed at any moment.
Over the last four decades, the Islamic regime, in order to survive, has always used the death penalty as a tool to eliminate any voices of opposition and to create fear among people. Following the protests after the murdering Mahsa (Jina) Amini, tens of thousands of protesters were arrested and more than a hundred of them have been sentenced to execution. We have recently been witnessing an increase in the execution sentences. According to the weekly reports by CFPPI, at least 104 detainees are sentenced to execution or are at risk of being executed on the charge of Moharebeh (being the enemy of God): wp.me/p9yWrK-3jp
Additionally, the Islamic regime has increased the execution of prisoners accused of drug-related offences. These prisoners were deprived of having a fair trial and their basic rights. According to a women’s rights organisation inside Iran ( Nedaye Zanan Iran), on 15 May 2023, Payman Akbari was executed and buried in the city of Shoushtar. The regime announced that he was arrested for drug-related offences, however, his family denied this and indicated that he was arrested during the protests in 2022 and was executed because of that. Eyewitnesses reported a heavy presence of security forces at his burial.
Following each execution, the Islamic regime faces condemnation by the international community; However, these condemnations have not stopped the regime from carrying out further executions and murdering people in Iran. According to human rights organisations, since January 2023 at least 240 prisoners have been executed. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated “On average so far this year, over 10 people are put to death each week in Iran, making it one the world’s highest executors”.
It is ironic and outrageous that despite all the well-documented crimes against humanity committed by the Islamic regime in Iran, this regime has just been appointed to the Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council 2023 Social Forum! Despite all the facts and figures gathered by CFPPI and other international human rights organisations, the European Union and the European governments refuse to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is directly responsible for all the crimes committed in Iran, as a terrorist organisation. IRGC is the main force of the Islamic regime which is responsible for abducting, torturing and executing prisoners. The judiciary system in Iran is entirely under the control of the IRGC. IRGC is also responsible for kidnapping dual nationals from foreign countries, taking them to Iran and executing them. Mr Habib Farajollah Chaab, Swedish-Iranian was kidnapped by the IRGC in 2020 and was executed on 6 May 2023. Mr Jamshid Sharmah, German-Iranian and Mr Ahmad Reza Djalali Swedish-Iranian and both sentenced to execution.
This deliberate refusal by the EU, UK, Canada and other governments to include the IRGC in the list of terrorist organisations has so far provided a confirmation that the crime against humanity committed by the Islamic regime will have zero consequence. These inactions by these governments have so far emboldened the IRGC to kidnap, murder, torture, rape and execute more people in Iran. This has also confirmed to the Iranians that the EU, UK, Canada and other governments are decidedly ignoring their human rights and the crime against humanity committed by IRGC in Iran.
The ineffective gesture of including some names within the IRGC ranks on the list of sanctions are good steps but not effective.
Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) calls on the European Union and other governments to take decisive, serious and effective actions to stop the bloodshed by the Islamic regime and its military arm IRGC and to pressure the Islamic regime to immediately and unconditionally stop all executions in Iran.
Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI)
Shiva Mahbobi, Spokeswoman
www.cfppi.org shiva.mahbobi@gmail.com Tel: +447572356661