UN Experts Condemn Young Protester's Execution In Iran

A panel of United Nations experts strongly criticized the execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou, a 23-year-old protester with a long-term psychosocial disability.

The experts including Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions called on Iran to uphold its commitments under international human rights law.

“We are alarmed by reports of unfair trial proceedings in the case of Mr Ghobadlou, as well as in other cases, which fell far short of due process and fair trial standards required by international human rights law by which Iran is bound,” the UN experts said.

Ghobadlou, arrested on September 22, 2022, in connection with nationwide protests faced accusations of killing an Iranian official in Robat Karim, Tehran Province, and was sentenced to death on charges of "corruption on earth."

“We are shocked that the authorities went ahead with the execution despite the fact that Mr Ghobadlou and his lawyer had no information about the legal basis for the intended execution,” the experts said.

Additionally, they identified at least four individuals, including Mojahed (Abbas) Kourkour and Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, reportedly at imminent risk of execution, with at least 15 others facing the death penalty.

Concerned about the spike in executions, the experts disclosed that at least 834 people were executed in Iran in 2023, including 8 associated with the nationwide protests. They urgently called on the Iranian government to halt the ongoing wave of executions and reassess the use of the death penalty.