Hengaw warns of imminent executions targeting political prisoners accused of spying for Israel
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights expresses deep concern over the increasing risk of executions targeting political prisoners in Iran, particularly those accused of espionage for Israel. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, authorities have systematically sentenced civilians to death under such charges, carrying out what amount to state-sanctioned killings.
Kurds, followers of the Baháʼí faith, and young, educated people with social influence have been among the primary victims of these fabricated charges and politically driven security cases.
Each time tensions rise between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel, Iranian authorities move swiftly to carry out executions against those who have long been held as political hostages under accusations of “spying for Israel.” According to Hengaw’s documentation, over the past 30 months, at least 12 people — including 7 Kurdish prisoners — have been executed on these charges.
Based on Hengaw’s investigations, the cases of Azad Shojaei, Edris Aly, Shahin Wasaf, Naser Bakrzadeh, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad exemplify this repressive trend. These Kurdish men were either detained during public protests or targeted by security forces due to their work as cross-border couriers (kolbars). All now face execution following deeply flawed legal proceedings.
Hengaw also draws attention to the case of Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, a Tehran resident and political prisoner currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. His death sentence, also based on alleged espionage for Israel, was recently upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court. Reports confirm that he was subjected to severe torture and forced to confess under duress.
Additionally, Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish dual-national physician and researcher, has been imprisoned since 2016 and sentenced to death on similar charges. His confession, like many others, was extracted under torture. International human rights bodies have repeatedly called for the revocation of his sentence and his immediate release.
Hengaw strongly condemns the use of coerced confessions and unfair judicial processes as grounds for capital punishment. These actions form part of a broader policy of retaliation and repression, in clear violation of international human rights standards.
We urge all media outlets, human rights organizations, and members of the Iranian and international public to remain alert and engaged. In critical moments like this, it is essential to look beyond geopolitical frameworks and to advocate for the rights and lives of those who are being held hostage to serve the Islamic Republic of Iran’s internal and regional agendas.
