In a chilling continuation of decades-long repression, the Iranian regime remains committed to its brutal use of the death penalty, particularly against political prisoners. On Monday, September 16, 2024, the regime’s judiciary announced the death sentences of two political prisoners: Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamlou, 70 years old, a father of two, and Mehdi Hassani, 48 years old, a father of three. These sentences follow a familiar pattern of oppressive measures, targeting anyone perceived as opposing the theocratic dictatorship. Both men were arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, known as the Mahsa movement uprising. Their alleged crimes: “rebellion, war against God, corruption on earth, and affiliation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI),” a group long persecuted by the regime.
The mullahs’ regime has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to the use of execution as a political weapon, aimed at stifling dissent and instilling fear. This strategy of state-sanctioned violence has deep roots, stretching back to the Islamic Republic’s earliest days. The most notorious examples include the 1982 and 1988 massacres, during which thousands of political prisoners were summarily executed. In the regime’s eyes, dissent is not just a political crime, but a divine transgression, as the charges of “war against God” and “corruption on earth” make clear. But beneath the veneer of religious piety lies a regime terrified of its own people, seeking to suppress any movement that threatens its grip on power.
Rising Wave of Executions
Just days after announcing the death sentences of Ehsani-Eslamlou and Hassani, the judiciary informed yet another political prisoner, Mohammad Javad Vafa’i-Sani, that he had been sentenced to death for the third time. Vafa’i-Sani, also arrested during the Mahsa movement protests, is detained in Mashhad prison, where his fate now hangs by a thread.
The Mahsa movement, which erupted in 2022 following the death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody, marked a turning point for the regime. Demonstrations swept across the nation, with Iranians from all walks of life protesting systemic oppression, demanding fundamental freedoms, and rejecting theocratic rule. These protests were met with brutal crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, and mass executions, as the regime sought to quell the rising tide of dissent. Thousands of protesters were arrested during the uprising, many of whom now languish in the regime’s notorious prisons, facing torture, mistreatment, and the constant threat of execution.
The Islamic Republic’s theocratic rulers view any challenge to their authority as an existential threat. They have long relied on executions as a means to maintain control, and the judiciary, steeped in the regime’s interpretation of Sharia law, has become the tool through which political opponents are eliminated.
Iran’s Dark Human Rights Record
Professor Javaid Rehman, who served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran from July 2018 to July 2024, issued a damning report describing the 1982 and 1988 massacres as genocides. These massacres, which saw thousands of political prisoners hanged or executed, were based solely on their religious and ideological beliefs. The regime sought to eradicate opposition, particularly the members and supporters of the PMOI. The use of the term “genocide” is significant, underscoring the severity of the regime’s actions and the intentionality behind its efforts to wipe out political dissidents.
Rehman’s report has drawn fierce backlash from the Iranian regime. Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, lashed out at Rehman on social media, accusing him of serving the interests of the PMOI, which the regime has long labeled a terrorist organization. Kanaani’s statement reflects the regime’s consistent efforts to discredit those who expose its human rights abuses. Rather than addressing the horrifying revelations in Rehman’s report, the regime chose to attack the messenger, a tactic it has employed many times before.
Despite the regime’s denials, the numbers paint a grim picture. Since the rise of the new president, Massoud Pezeshkian, in August 2024, the rate of executions has surged alarmingly. Over 170 people have been executed in just the past few months, many of them political prisoners. These executions serve not only as a punishment but also as a chilling warning to the broader Iranian population. The regime, already on high alert after the 2022 Mahsa uprising, appears to be deeply paranoid about another potential revolt, which could be even more widespread and devastating than the last.
The political landscape in Iran is one of deep instability. The Iranian public is increasingly disillusioned with the regime’s inability to address rampant corruption, economic mismanagement, and the absence of political freedoms. Pezeshkian’s presidency has done little to ease these tensions, and his refusal to address the issue of political prisoners or the soaring execution rates during his press conferences speaks volumes about his priorities. Instead of offering solutions or reform, the regime continues to tighten its grip on power, using terror as its primary weapon.
Massacres: A Regime Built on Bloodshed
The Iranian regime’s history is rife with bloodshed, none more emblematic than the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. Following a fatwa issued by then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, over 30,000 prisoners—90% of whom were PMOI members or supporters—were executed over a matter of months. This mass killing, which many human rights organizations now classify as a crime against humanity, has never been officially acknowledged by the regime, nor have any of its perpetrators been brought to justice. Instead, many of those responsible for the massacre have risen to prominent positions within the current government.
The 1988 massacre, along with the ongoing executions of dissidents, illustrates the regime’s reliance on fear and violence to maintain control. Every day under this regime, Iranian society bleeds, with families mourning the loss of loved ones, whether executed in prison or gunned down in the streets during protests. In 2023 alone, 864 people were executed, and the regime’s crackdown on protests in 2019 claimed the lives of at least 1,500 people. During the 2022 Mahsa uprising, another 750 were killed, either in the streets or after their arrest.
Despite the repression, the Iranian resistance movement remains active, both within the country and in exile. Human rights defenders and activists, many of whom are part of the PMOI or allied groups, have worked tirelessly to document the regime’s crimes and bring them to the attention of the international community. Their efforts have led to 70 UN resolutions condemning the Iranian regime’s human rights violations, but these condemnations have yet to lead to concrete action against the regime’s leadership.
Struggle for Justice: “No to the Death Penalty” Campaign
Amid the carnage, a growing movement against the death penalty is gaining traction in Iran. Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian opposition, has launched the “No to the Death Penalty in Iran” campaign, rallying support both domestically and internationally. Rajavi’s campaign calls for an end to executions, emphasizing that the Iranian regime’s use of capital punishment is not only a violation of human rights but also a tool of political oppression.
Rajavi argues that foreign governments must condition their relations with Iran on the cessation of executions. She believes that international pressure, particularly in the form of sanctions and diplomatic isolation, can play a crucial role in forcing the regime to change its policies. Rajavi’s campaign has already garnered significant support among the Iranian diaspora, as well as from human rights organizations and some Western governments.
Inside Iran, prisoners across 21 different prisons have joined in protest against the death penalty, engaging in hunger strikes every Tuesday. These acts of defiance are a powerful reminder of the resilience of Iran’s political prisoners, many of whom have been unjustly sentenced to death for their beliefs or affiliations. For them, the death penalty is not just a sentence but a symbol of the regime’s determination to crush any form of dissent.
What Must Be Done?
The Iranian regime’s brazen use of executions and repression requires a unified and robust international response. While the UN and human rights organizations have issued numerous condemnations, these statements have not been enough to halt the regime’s killing machine. What is needed now is a concerted effort by the international community to hold the regime accountable for its crimes.
- Targeted Sanctions: Governments should impose targeted sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for human rights violations, including judges and prison officials who play key roles in the execution of political prisoners.
- Diplomatic Isolation: Countries should reassess their diplomatic relations with Iran, particularly those that have strong economic or political ties. Conditioning these relationships on improvements in human rights could force the regime to reconsider its policies.
- International Investigations: The international community must push for independent investigations into the regime’s crimes, particularly the 1988 massacre and the executions of political prisoners. Access to Iran’s prisons by UN officials and human rights organizations is critical to ensuring transparency and accountability.
As Iran’s regime continues to use executions as a tool of terror, the voices of those calling for justice and freedom grow louder. The international community has a moral obligation to support these voices, ensuring that the Iranian people’s struggle for justice is not in vain. With continued pressure and solidarity, there is hope that one day the reign of terror under the mullahs will come to an end, and the Iranian people will be free to shape their own destiny.
