When news of the executions spread, protests broke out in many cities, particularly in Tehran and Isfahan. From apartment windows in Tehran, chants rang out: “Death to the Dictator.” In Zahedan, capital of Sistan and Baluchistan province, hundreds of marchers chanted, “We don’t want the Republic of Executions” and “There are a thousand others behind every person killed!”
Below: Students at Beheshti University protest executions, May 20
As we wrote last week, the horrific surge of executions in Iran continues. As of May 19, 2023, the regime has murdered at least 264 people this year[ii], or almost two per day. Most of the executions are for the catch-all “drug-related” charges. Among those who continue to face imminent danger of execution are six Arab activists in Ahwaz, a majority Arab area, and at least six Baluchi protesters from the Fall 2022 uprising. And there are many more in the gruesome execution “pipeline”.
Protests have been called for May 20 by the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims in scores of cities worldwide under the theme of “United Against Executions in Iran.” Stay tuned for reports and plans from the IEC.
We Demand:
Stop the executions!
Free Iran's political prisoners now!
No US threats or war moves against Iran!
[i]On November 16, 2022, a large number of protesters were caught up in a dragnet, all arbitrarily charged with the shooting death of two Basijis (plainclothes militiamen) and one cop at a protest in the “Isfahan House” district. The trials presented no evidence linking these men or other defendants to the killing nor that they were armed, only confessions obtained through horrific torture and threats against their families, which they retracted in court. None of the defendants were allowed to choose their own lawyer. They were convicted of “Waging war on God” in a trial that lasted 4 days. “More executions of protesters in Iran imminent after sham trials”, Center for Human Rights in Iran, May 17 2023;Iran executes three men accused over anti-government protests”, The Guardian, May 19, 2023
[ii] Daily update on iranhr.net; IRI does not publicize many of its executions, especially in oppressed nationality regions, so this statistic, based on media reports and internal contacts, is conservative.