Iran has executed three men charged in connection with political protests in January, authorities have said, marking the latest in a wave of hangings amid the conflict with the United States and Israel. The executions, announced by the judiciary's Mizan news agency on Monday, targeted Mehdi Rassouli, Mohammad Reza Miri, and Ebrahim Dolatabadi, all considered political prisoners by human rights organizations.
Details of the Executions
The three men were convicted over unrest in the eastern city of Mashhad in January. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) reported that Rassouli, 25, and Miri, 21, were hanged at dawn on Sunday at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad. Mizan did not specify the exact time or location of the executions but stated that Rassouli and Miri were responsible for the death of a security force member, while Dolatabadi was described as an "instigator" of the unrest.
Context of the Protests
The protests began in December, partly driven by grievances over Iran's struggling economy, and escalated into nationwide rallies against the Islamic regime. They peaked on the nights of January 8 and 9, 2024. Rights groups claim that thousands were killed in the subsequent crackdown by security forces, while Iranian authorities blame "rioters" allegedly backed by the US and Israel.
International Reactions
The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) condemned the executions, stating that the three men were sentenced after unfair trials in revolutionary courts. IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam urged the international community, especially the European Union, to respond decisively. "Unless the political cost of these executions is raised through clear and strong international reactions, there is a serious risk of daily executions continuing," he said.
Amnesty International also criticized the executions, noting on May 1 that the international community must not stand idly by. The organization documented 13 cases where men were subjected to torture and convicted in grossly unfair trials lasting only a few hours, relying on forced confessions.
Broader Pattern of Executions
Activists report that Iranian authorities have carried out near-daily executions in recent weeks, aiming to instill fear amid international and domestic tensions. Since executions resumed in March during the conflict with the US and Israel, Iran has executed 24 political prisoners, according to IHR. Rights groups rank Iran as the second-highest executor globally after China, with at least 1,639 people hanged last year.
