Grave Concern Over Possible Secret Executions of 5 Iranian Protesters

Informed sources have told IHR that as of yesterday, Mehdi Salehi Ghaleh Shahrokhi, Mohammad Bastami, Majid Nazari Kondari, Hadi Kiani and Abbas Mohammadi have not had any contact with their families and what officials have told their families gives reason to believe that they will be executed within hours. The securitisation of the city of Nikbakht in Isfahan has doubled the families’ fears.

On Monday, 27 July, following IHR’s revelation that the Supreme Court had upheld the death sentences of the five protesters, judiciary officials were quick to issue a denial. Meanwhile, documents obtained by IHR show that the five men’s death sentences, who are co-defendants with eight other people in the case, were upheld by the Supreme Court.

IHR Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam had previously said: “In addition to the inhumanity of the death penalty itself, we condemn the use of executions as a means of repressing protesters and creating fear in society. We call on the international community to put pressure on the Iranian authorities to stop these executions.” Referring to the unprecedented mass “don’t execute” hashtag campaign, which was started by social media users, Amiry-Moghaddam also stressed the need for collective action to echo the voice of the protesters to the world.