Public executions have returned to the streets of Iran, according to statements released by human rights groups and family members of those executed. The developments follow months of war with the U.S. and mass protests in January, as the regime clamps down on public dissent.
Public Hangings in Isfahan Target Young Protesters
Cranes were used to set up hanging ropes in Isfahan to execute three young protesters. Amirhossein Safari, 27, Abolfazl Sepahi, 23, and Alireza Sepahi, 25, were brought by van to Isfahan’s Alikhani Street to be hanged for alleged crimes related to the protests against the regime in January, human rights groups stated.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated Wednesday that the Islamic Republic regime has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges since March 19. That total includes 27 individuals in cases linked to the nationwide protests in January. Türk warned that more than 100 others remain at risk of execution on similar charges.
Iranian lawyers inside the country told ABC News that the real number of people at risk of execution related to the protests could be higher. In the Alikhani case, 12 young men were sentenced to death and several others received prison terms of five to 10 years, according to Iranian judiciary and human rights sources. Of the 12 men sentenced to death, four have been hanged and eight others await execution.
Execution Morning Scene and Witness Accounts
In the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, scaffolding was installed at Isfahan’s Alikhani Square after news circulated about the planned executions. A crane was brought to the scene as security forces gathered, raising fears that the hangings would occur in public. Citizens quickly gathered at the site.
Eyewitnesses told ABC News that the van transporting the defendants arrived escorted by a truck with a machine gun on its back to scare off protesters. Videos shared online showed protesters chanting slogans, clashes breaking out, and people fleeing as security forces moved in. The defendants arrived at dawn, just before the morning prayer call mandated by regime law for carrying out executions.
While Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi were hanged Thursday, Alireza Sepahi did not reach the gallows. He was taken to a hospital after collapsing from what human rights groups described as heatstroke or a heart attack.
Did You Know? The morning prayer call in Iran has become a grim symbol for many citizens following recent hangings, with social media users sharing posts about how the dawn call now serves as a reminder of a “death song.”
Forced Confessions and Legal Defenses Denied
Relatives and friends of the defendants in the Alikhani case told ABC News that the regime forced their children to confess. Sources reported that defendants endured severe physical and psychological torture for days and were denied a lawyer of their choosing. Families requested anonymity to protect their safety and prevent additional pressure on their relatives on death row.
In some instances, the court refused to accept evidence proving defendants were not at the scene of the alleged crime. “They have tortured them for days to confess to murder,” a family member stated. A pro bono lawyer assigned by the judiciary was denied access to the case during the trial and after the death sentence was issued, according to family members, who added that parents and the lawyer were notified of the sentence only after the court issued it.
Türk condemned the death sentences in a statement last word, expressing concern over the judicial process and reports of confessions “allegedly been obtained under torture and other ill-treatment.” Amnesty International also condemned the hangings Tuesday, warning that three prisoners on death row were arrested as children.
International Reactions and Family Threats
Amnesty International called on UN member states to take urgent coordinated diplomatic action, stating that a muted international response emboldens Iranian authorities to continue their actions. Meanwhile, security and intelligence forces have warned families and friends of those on death row against talking to media outlets or contacting families of other defendants.
“The whole family’s life is on fire. It is not just the life of one single person at risk. We are all at risk,” a family member’s relative told ABC News. Sources close to imprisoned protesters reported that the regime threatened that if they spoke to the media, their other children would not be safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been executed since March 19?
According to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, the regime has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges in that timeframe.
What were the specific charges against the defendants in Isfahan?
According to human rights groups, Amirhossein Safari, Abolfazl Sepahi, and Alireza Sepahi were brought to Isfahan’s Alikhani Street for alleged crimes related to the anti-regime protests in January.
What legal representation did the defendants receive?
Families stated that defendants were denied a lawyer of their choosing. A pro bono lawyer assigned by the judiciary was denied access to the case both during the trial and after the death sentence was issued.
What steps could the international community take next regarding these executions?
Amnesty International stated that UN member states could take urgent coordinated diplomatic action to press Iranian authorities to halt further executions.
How have families been impacted outside of the courtroom?
Relatives have been warned by security and intelligence forces not to talk to the media or contact other defendant families under threat of consequences to their other children.
How are citizens and human rights organizations responding to the reported use of torture?
Human rights groups and U.N. officials have condemned the judicial process and the reported reliance on confessions allegedly obtained through physical and psychological torture.
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