Political Use of the Death Penalty by the Islamic Republic of Iran

The political use of the death penalty has always been the Islamic Republic’s response to significant political and social events in Iran. Statistics show that in recent years, the number of executions in Iran has had a disproportionate relationship with the country’s demographic composition. Arabs, Balochs, and Kurds have borne a higher share of political executions relative to their population size.

Now, in the midst of a significant political and social event (the military conflict between Iran and Israel), which threatens the continued existence of this regime, the Islamic Republic has once again turned to executions as a tool to demonstrate its ability to continue exercising force and instilling public fear. In a pattern repeated many times before, the regime has targeted citizens who receive less widespread support and media coverage.

“Ali Mojadam,” “Moein Khanfari,” “Mohammadreza Moghaddam,” and “Adnan Ghabishavi (Mousavi)” are four political prisoners who have been transferred to solitary confinement in Sepidar Prison in preparation for execution. The Karoon Human Rights Organization’s review of their case shows that these political prisoners’ right to a fair trial was violated. They were subjected to arbitrary violence during their arrest, tortured to extract forced confessions, and subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment. Some of the defendants’ families were arrested, threatened, and harassed to pressure the prisoners. The defendants were denied access to chosen legal representation, and despite the court’s awareness of their confessions obtained under torture, the forced confessions were used as the basis for the ruling.

These four political prisoners have been arrested and sentenced to death as a result of the Islamic Republic’s continued discriminatory policies and widespread and systematic repression against political dissidents and cultural and civil activists in Iran.

We, the signatories of this statement, demand the immediate annulment of the death sentences against these political prisoners, their access to chosen legal counsel, the ability to meet with their families, and a fair and public trial for these Arab Ahwazi citizens.

The signatories of this statement also call upon other human rights organizations, international institutions, and United Nations officials to intervene immediately, actively, and effectively to help abolish the inhumane death penalty in Iran and to prevent the extrajudicial execution of “Ali Mojadam,” “Moein Khanfari,” “Mohammadreza Moghadam,” and “Adnan Ghabishavi (Mousavi).”

The signatories of this statement include the following organizations:

– Karoon Human Rights Organization
– Azerbaijan Human Rights Society (ARK)
– Tohra, Human Rights Activists of Turkmen Sahara
– Hal Vash
– Kurdpa Human Rights Organization
– Kurdistan Human Rights Society - Geneva
– Resank
– Organization for the Defense of the Free Flow of Information
– Baloch Activists Campaign
– Hana Human Rights Organization
– Shivar News