Deteriorating human rights situation in Iran: Escalation in executions and arrests

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Staff Writer
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The human rights landscape in Iran is rapidly sliding into a severe crisis, with a stark increase in the number of arrests and executions in recent years.
The human rights landscape in Iran is rapidly sliding into a severe crisis, with a stark increase in the number of arrests and executions in recent years.

The human rights landscape in Iran is rapidly sliding into a severe crisis, with a stark increase in the number of arrests and executions in recent years.

 

The human rights landscape in Iran is rapidly sliding into a severe crisis, with a stark increase in the number of arrests and executions in recent years. This alarming trend is coupled with an unyielding assault on dissent, where the state’s machinery shows no signs of relenting.

Political activists, journalists, religious minorities, and those merely exercising their right to free expression are being incarcerated at an alarming rate. Many of these detainees are subjected to detention without just trials or legal counsel. This intensified clampdown appears to be a calculated attempt to muzzle opposition and curb essential civil freedoms.

Iran’s liberal use of the death penalty has attracted intense criticism on the international stage, primarily because it boasts one of the world’s highest execution rates on a per-capita basis. This data further breaks down to show that of these detainees, 934 were general citizens, with a worrying 23% (441 individuals) being of Baluch descent. 59 of those arrested were followers of the Baha’i faith, with 252 women and 168 minors also counted among the detainees.

 

Drawing a month-to-month comparison, Hengaw reported that in September 2023, 463 citizens were taken into custody, a steep 75% jump from August’s figure of 264.
Drawing a month-to-month comparison, Hengaw reported that in September 2023, 463 citizens were taken into custody, a steep 75% jump from August’s figure of 264. Of the September arrests, 203 were Kurdish, making up 44% of the month’s total, while 122 were Baluch citizens, accounting for 26%.

 

Comparative data suggests that this year has seen a more significant degradation in Iran’s human rights situation than the last. From October 10, 2022, to October 8, 2023, Human Rights Activists Groups registered 580 reports on executions in Iran. 164 individuals were condemned to death in this period, with two of these executions taking place publicly.

Data from Hrana reveals that death sentences were executed for 659 individuals during this timeframe, including 17 women and a minor. Year-over-year data points to a 24% increase in death sentence executions and an 84% increase in death sentence issuances. Strikingly, 63% of these executions took place covertly, with no public disclosure.

 

Iran's increasing rate of executions appears to be a tactic born out of the regime’s fear of potential revolts by its citizens. The international community must take cognizance of these grave human rights violations and press for immediate reforms.
Iran’s increasing rate of executions appears to be a tactic born out of the regime’s fear of potential revolts by its citizens. The international community must take cognizance of these grave human rights violations and press for immediate reforms.

 

The majority of the executions were concentrated in several prisons, such as Zahedan Prison, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Karaj Central Prison, among others.Highlighting the regime’s harshness, in the Persian month of “Mehr”, a total of 69 prisoners faced execution, with 10 executed in Ghezel Hesar prison on October 18 alone.

 

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

 

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