Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 29, 2024: State media have reported the executions of Kurdish political prisoners , Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hajir Faramarzi in Ghezelhesar Prison despite repeated domestic and international calls to stop their death penalty.
Iran Human Rights strongly condemns the execution of these four individuals and calls on the international community to end their silence on the wave of executions in Iran. The organisation also urges Nada Al-Nashif, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, to cancel her upcoming visit to Iran and explicitly state that the reason is to protest these executions.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Iran Human Rights, said: "The execution of these four prisoners was based on confessions under torture and without a fair trial, and is considered extrajudicial killing. Khamenei and the corrupt judiciary of the Islamic Republic must be held accountable for these murders."
He added: "The international community must show a practical response to the Islamic Republic's rampant and daily executions. The least reaction of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the executions should be the cancellation of Nada Al-Nashif's deputy commissioner's trip to Iran."
Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, is scheduled to visit Iran from February 2 to 5.
According to the Islamic Republic Judiciary's Mizan newsagency, Kurdish political prisoners Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar and Hajir Faramarzi were executed for charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) through "espionage for Israel" in Ghezelhesar Prison in Karaj on 29 January.
Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar and Hajir Faramarzi were arrested in Urmia on 22 June 2022 and held incommunicado until the day prior to their executions including access to their own lawyers. Their torture-tainted forced confessions were aired by state media prior to the commencement of any legal proceedings. Their first and last family visit was their last.
The four Kurdish political prisoners were sentenced to death for charges of moharebeh and efsad-fil-arz through espionage for Israel by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Their death penalty was upheld by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court within 24 hours.
Iran Human Rights and many human rights defenders and organisations had called for their executions to be halted citing violations of due process and fair trial rights.