The Islamic regime has been using killing as a way to rule since the beginning. Once they came to power, political opponents and anyone they considered to be a threat, was killed, either by firing squad, or hanging.
The Islamic regime is by no means the only entity to carry out this form of punishment and this blog is not to give you the long history into this form of punishment within or outside Iran. Rather, it is to bring attention to the use of this form of killing by the Islamic regime to maintain their rule during the Women, Life, Freedom revolution.
Those that hold positions of power in Iran are highly experienced in using executions or state sanctioned killing as many call it, on their own population. In fact, Ebrahim Raisi the current president was an important part of the ‘Death Committee of Tehran’ who ensured that while the population was traumatised from a brutal war, they used the opportunity to carry out mass executions of anyone they deemed a threat to their rule. Up to 30,000 are said to have been killed. There has been no accountability, and for his role he has been promoted to being president, entering many parliaments including the United Nations building.
It is then not surprising that with the Women, Life, Freedom revolution threatening their rule, that the Islamic regime is back to its old tricks of mass killings and massacres to retain power. As widely reported around 20,000 people (many young) are in jail. Despite what Western Media has reported in relation to pardons (shame of these lazy journalists for rolling out regime propaganda), most are still in jail.
On November 6, 227 of the 290 members of the Islamic Republic parliament called on Iran’s judiciary for “the execution of the protestors sentenced to war as soon as possible.” Again, at the time, many media outlets gas lit human rights activists by calling this ‘fake news (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/16/iran-protests-social-media-death-penalty). This just when this news was gaining traction and media coverage. This line rolled out across many media organisations delegitimised the role of many human rights activists and took pressure off Western governments to act to protect Iranian people from this fate.
What has ensued however is proving the original news to be right. Many protesters have been tortured to provide false confessions. Their crimes ranging from setting garbage bins on fire, to blocking off a street to protect protesters, to helping protesters to the most random – moharebeh – or waging war with/ against God. Who is God? why the Islamic regime of course – which is literally the most un-Islamic thing you could think of (as Islam believes in one God and that God is supposed to be merciful).
Since late last year, cases have been fast tracked and the killings of protesters have begun, starting with Mohsen Shakari a 22 year old barista who was accused of blocking a street. Majid Reza Rahnavard, also 22 was hanged from a crane in public. Mohammad Mehdi Karami (21 year old karate champion) and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini (39 year old volunteer children’s coach) was killed shortly thereafter when the west was enjoying their new year holidays.
Last week, despite pleas from around the world, Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yagoubi were killed. These killings traumatise these families and are very hard on Iranians within and outside Iran.
Right now, there are over 100 protesters at risk of execution. This amongst a massive increase in using executions and hangings by the Islamic regime to sow fear in the population overall.
In 2022, the Islamic regime increased the number of people killed by hanging by 83% as compared to 2021. It is now the highest killer per capita than any other country in the world and the second highest in numbers alone. In the Middle-East, more women have been hanged by the Islamic regime, than anywhere else (12). As noted in the Amnesty International report ” The Iranian authorities continued to use the death penalty as a tool of political repression and to disproportionately execute members of ethnic minorities as part of the long-term, entrenched discrimination and repression of these groups” (LINK). Ethnic groups such as Arab, Baloch and Kurd are especially discriminated against and subject to executions.
This year, there has been close to 300 people hanged (one every 6 hours). This shocking statistic is set to continue unless Western nations communicate a clear red line to the Islamic regime which they are yet to do.
How you can help
It may seem hopeless, but we can do something.
Write to your local MP and ask them to stand with the people of Iran.
Sign a petition.
Share this Blog and stories of these killings. Use the hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran
Tag journalists, new agencies like @abcnews , human rights organisations such as @UN_HRC , and politicians such as @SenatorWong and @EUCouncil
Donate to charities that fight on behalf of prisoners in Iran such as Amnesty International.
Women, Life, Freedom 