Two political prisoners sentenced to death as Iran’s execution rate soars
Two Iranian political prisoners have been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Urmia in separate cases.
Two Iranian political prisoners have been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Urmia in separate cases.
The sentences for Mehran Hasanzadeh and Hamid Abdollahzadeh add to growing concerns over the escalating use of capital punishment against political dissidents in the country.
Hasanzadeh, a resident of Oshnavieh, was convicted on charges of rebellion (Baghi), a capital offense under Iran's Islamic law.
According to HRANA human rights organization, the charge stemmed from an accusation of killing a member of the Basij paramilitary force.
“Mehran has been accused of killing a Basij member, which ultimately led to the charge of rebellion and the issuance of the death sentence against him,” a source familiar with the case told HRANA.
Hasanzadeh was previously detained during the 2022 protests, released on bail, and later rearrested before being transferred to Urmia Prison.
In a separate case, Abdollahzadeh, a resident of Urmia, received a death sentence on suspicion of "membership in an opposition party."
Arrested by security forces in late 2023, he was taken to Urmia Prison following interrogation.
The sentencing of Hasanzadeh and Abdollahzadeh reflects a broader trend of intensifying repression since nationwide protests erupted in September 2022. Sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police, the demonstrations have been met with severe crackdowns, including mass arrests and the targeting of civil and political activists.
In recent months, Iranian authorities have increasingly resorted to the death penalty. Human rights groups report that over 42 political prisoners are currently at risk of execution.
In its November 21 report, HRANA documented at least 133 executions in since the past month, averaging more than four per day. This surge follows another statistic from the Iran Human Rights Organization, which recorded at least 166 executions in October.
HRANA’s reports indicate an average of 811 executions occurred between October 2023 and October 2024, encompassing both political detainees and ordinary prisoners.
The heightened execution rate coincides with rising tensions between Iran and Israel, and some suggest that the government uses the cover of geopolitical crises to deflect attention from internal repression.
