Sunni Prisoner Ghasem Abasteh Executed in Qezel Hesar, Karaj

On November 5, 2023, Ghasem Abasteh, a Sunni prisoner who had spent 13 years and 9 months behind bars, was executed in Qezel Hesar, Karaj.

Abasteh’s ordeal through the legal system began in January-February 2010 when he was initially arrested. After enduring 14 months of uncertainty in Evin and Urmia Prisons, he found himself in Rajai Shahr Prison, located in Karaj. This year, in August, he was transferred to Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison.

Throughout his ordeal, Abasteh faced multiple charges, including the serious accusation of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) due to his alleged sympathies with Salafi Groups, a religious movement within Sunni Islam, which he consistently denied.

In February-March 2016, he and six other Sunni prisoners received a death sentence from Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. However, this verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to the case being transferred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Judge Salavati, presiding over this court, handed down the death sentence to these six individuals again on June 17 and 18, 2019. This time, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Ghasem Abasteh, along with Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ayoub Karimi, and Davoud Abdollahi.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Iran Protests: Three Protestors Sentenced to Death

Judiciary Media Center announced that three individuals arrested during recent protests have been sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on the charges of “enmity against God” and “spreading corruption on earth.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA, three protestors arrested in Tehran were sentenced to death.

According to these verdicts, these individuals have been convicted allegedly for “closing the roads, creating terror and damaging public property.”

The judicial authorities also claimed that one of these individuals ran over a police/security agent in a car leading to his death.

Two Inmates Executed in Isfahan

On September 11, 2022, Dastgerd Prison’s officials executed two inmates who were previously sentenced to death on the charge of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on September 11, 2022, two inmates identified as Mehran Noor-Mohammadi, 27 and Hassan Mohammadipour, 27 were executed in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan.

These inmates were convicted of armed robbery and shooting in 2016.

Update on Zeynab Jalalian’s Condition in Yazd Prison

Political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian is spending the fifteenth year of her life sentence in exile, in Yazd Prison. During this period, she did not have any furlough and was denied medical treatment despite suffering from several diseases.

An informed source told HRANA, “despite the recommendation of physicians, prison officials refuse to dispatch  Jalalian to a hospital outside the prison and her treatment is restricted to non-specialist examinations in the infirmary.”

Zeynab Jalalian is held in a ward of inmates convicted of violent crimes. Due to the fact that she is kept in an exiled city, she rarely receives family visits.

In 2007, Zeynab Jalalian was arrested by an Iranian intelligence agency. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death on the charge of “enmity against God through membership in an anti-regime group.” The verdict was commuted to life imprisonment on appeal.

Zeynab Jalalian went on hunger strike several times. During the detention, she was tortured,  beaten, and received rape threats. 

Political Prisoner Firooz Musaloo Executed in Urmia Prison

On Monday, June 20, 2022, political prisoner Firooz Musaloo was executed in Urmia Prison. He was taken from the public ward of Urmia Prison to an unidentified location prior to the execution.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, June 20, 2022, political prisoner Firooz Musaloo was executed in Urmia Prison.

Musaloo was earlier sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia on the charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh)”, and “membership in one of the anti-regime political parties.”

Yesterday, intelligence-affiliated Fars News Agency, quoting the Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan, claimed an inmate accused of killing two border agents was executed. Although this news agency did not disclose the name and other details, it appears to refer to Mualoo’s execution.

On July 11, 2019, Firooz Musaloo was arrested by IRGC’s Intelligence and transferred to a detention center in Urmia. On January 1, 2020, he was sent to Urmia Prison.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

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