Iranian Activists Demand Halt To Surging Executions

A placard is seen during a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, in Berlin, Germany, December 10, 2022.
A placard is seen during a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, in Berlin, Germany, December 10, 2022.

Over 430 civil and political activists in Iran have slammed Iran's execution spree which goes against the country's own legal system.

Via the Telegram channel of Kalameh on Sunday, a statement penned by the activists said “recent executions have been driven more by a desire for retribution, instilling fear, and asserting power, rather than serving justice", as the regime struggles to quash dissent.

The executions of Mohammad Ghobadlou, a protester from the 2022 demonstrations, and Farhad Salimi, a Kurdish political prisoner accused of murder, have sparked widespread condemnation from both domestic and international human rights organizations.

Prominent critics of the Islamic Republic, such as Hamed Esmaeilion, Nazanin Boniadi, Prince Reza Pahlavi, and Masih Alinejad, have called on the international community to address the ongoing execution surge.

Echoing the sentiments, Iran Human Rights Organization has added its voice to the chorus of disapproval, urging the international community to break its silence and take concrete steps to address the alarming escalation of executions in Iran.

United Nations experts said that "at least 834 people were executed in 2023, including 8 people associated with the nationwide protests" of 2022 last year, with dozens more already killed this year.