Iran | International Community Must Enforce Consequences for Execution of 3 Isfahan Protesters

Unless the Iranian authorities are met with serious consequences by the international community, hundreds of protester lives will be taken by their killing machine.

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 19, 2023: Protesters Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were executed this morning, according to the Judiciary’s Mizan news agency.

Iran Human Rights previously warned of their imminent executions and urged the international community to do all in its power to save them.

Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “The execution of the three protesters are extrajudicial killings that Iranian authorities, particularly Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, must be held accountable for. Unless the Iranian authorities are met with serious consequences by the international community, hundreds of protester lives will be taken by their killing machine.”

“These executions are meant to prolong the Islamic Republic's rule and only a high political cost can stop more protester executions,” he added.

According to Mizan, the Judiciary’s news agency, protesters Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were executed on 19 May. The report does not specify the exact location of the executions but they were held in Isfahan Central Prison.

They were sentenced to death for charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on 9 January in relation to protests in Isfahan on 25 November 2022.

Saleh, Majid and Saeed were tortured to force self-incriminating confessions which were aired, to testify against each other and to take part in a reconstruction of the alleged crime scene where they were forced to repeat the scenario as was dictated to them.

In Majid Kazemi’s case, his two brothers were also arrested and used to pressure him into confessing to the false charges.

Their death penalty sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court on 9 May and their videos of their torture-tainted confessions and testimonies began airing on 11 May.

On 13 May, their families and lawyers were informed that their sentences would be carried out within days. The next day, the protesters’ families were joined by protesters who stayed outside Isfahan Central Prison all night.

On 17 May, the families of the protesters called on the public to join them outside the prison that night after they were granted last family visits.

The Judiciary issued a statement, denying that their executions were due to take place. Yet, they were executed in the early hours of 19 May.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 19, 2023

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