Iran | Third Man Hanged for Israel Collaboration in a Week

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 23, 2025: Iran state media reported the execution of Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh on charges of collaborating with Israel at an undisclosed prison.

Iran Human previously warned of the execution of defendants accused of espionage for Israel and published a list which included Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh.

IHRNGO Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam wrote: “The Islamic Republic executed Mohammad Amin Mahdvadi Shayesteh this morning on charges of collaborating with Israel! Mohammad Amin, like others, was sentenced to death based on confessions obtained under torture without a fair trial.”

Since the start of the Israel-Iran war on 13 June, at least ten people have been executed by the Islamic Republic, three of whom were on death row for espionage charges.

According to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was hanged for collaborating with Israel at an undisclosed prison on 23 June 2025.

Mohammad Amin, like others, was sentenced to death based on confessions obtained under torture without a fair trial.

Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, around 26 years old, was arrested in Autumn 2023. Under torture, he confessed to collaborating with Israel which was used as the basis to charge him with multiple offences including “insulting Islamic sanctities” and importantly, Article 6 of the Law on Countering Israeli Actions Against Peace and Security. The article states that “any intelligence cooperation or espionage in favour of the Zionist regime is considered as moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth), and the perpetrator shall be sentenced to the severest punishment.

Mohammad Amin was subsequently tried by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by “Death Judge” Salavati who issued the death sentence after a hasty trial. His case is so devoid of evidence that "an empty handgun magazine" and "a pepper spray can" were used as evidence of illegal possession of weapons to prove "collaboration with the enemy."

Mohammad Amin’s sentence was upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ghasem Hosseini Kouhkamari.

While state media reports have not specified the location of his execution, as Mohammad Amin was previously transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison, his execution appears to have been carried out at the prison.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, June 23, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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