Iran Human Rights Warns of Habib Asyoud’s Imminent Execution
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); March 12, 2023: The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Judiciary has announced the confirmation of death sentence for Habib Farajollah Chaab, better known as Habib Asyoud, increasing the risk of his imminent execution. The Swedish-Iranian dual national was kidnapped from Turkey by Islamic Republic forces in collaboration with international drug gangs in October 2020 and taken to Iran.
Expressing grave concern at Habib Asyoud’s imminent execution, Iran Human Rights strongly condemns his abduction, forced televised confessions obtained under duress, lack of due process and fair trial, and finally the inhumane death sentence issued and upheld against him.
Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Habib Asyoud is one of the victims of the Islamic Republic’s hostage diplomacy, with the hostage takers now trying to execute their captive. At this point, only decisive action by the international community, and particularly the EU and Sweden, can save the Swedish-Iranian’s life.”
“Decisive and united action by the international community is the only way to end the Islamic Republic’s hostage policy. Appeasement and flexibility shown by Western governments is one of the reasons the Islamic Republic has continued this policy for more than forty years,” he added.
According to the statement issued by the Judiciary, Habib Asyoud “confessed” to several terrorist attacks, including one on a military parade in Ahvaz in 22 September 2018. Given the use of torture to extract confessions by the authorities, such confessions cannot be lawful. He was sentenced to death for charges of efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth).
Iran Human Rights previously called for a diligent investigation into the kidnapping and extradition of Habib Asyoud from Turkey to Iran by international organisations, and warned of the possibility of his torture and death sentence.
Using dual-nationals as hostages and issuing heavy sentences against them as a way of pressuring other countries, particularly in the West, has become common practice by the Islamic Republic. Doctor and crisis management researcher, Ahmadreza Djalali who is a Swedish dual-national, is also on death row.
Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian kidnapped from the UAE in July 2020, is also at risk of execution after being sentenced to death for charges of efsad-fil-arz on February 21.
On January 14, British-Iranian Alireza Akbari who was a former government officials in Iran, was executed for charges of efsad-fil-arz for espionage.
Ruhollah Zam, the director of Amad News Telegram channel, was arrested in Iraq in October 2019 and transported to Iran. He was executed on 12 December 2020.
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