Monthly Report on Human Rights Violations in Iran — September 20 – October 20, 2024
27-October-2024
Category: ethnic minorities، executions، Freedom of Expression، Labor and guilds، protesters، religious minorities، Retirees، Suppression
News Category: Freedom of Expression – Protests – Executions – Religious Minorities – Ethnic Minorities – Arrests – Retirees
According to the Statistical Center of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, during the second month of Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidency, there has been an unprecedented surge in executions, with at least 157 prisoners executed, breaking the record for prisoner executions in recent years. This state-sanctioned killing of prisoners surpasses even the execution figures during Raisi’s presidency, who was referred to as the Ayatollah of Massacre. The highest number of executions under Raisi occurred in May this year, with 128 executions. However, during October, the second month of Pezeshkian’s presidency, the figure rose to 157 executions.
Amid rising tensions and conflicts with Israel and the expanding war in the region, and in fear of escalating social protests, the Islamic Republic has recklessly engaged in mass executions of prisoners. From its inception, the Islamic Republic has used executions to exert control over the population and suppress the emergence of social protests and dissent. Now, on the brink of a war that seems more imminent every day, we are witnessing widespread executions of prisoners across Iran’s prisons. During this period, on average, the regime has executed five prisoners per day. In another word, one person has been hanged every four hours.
Recalling the hunger strikes by prisoners in 23 prisons across Iran, to draw the attention of international organizations to the issue of executions in Iran, the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran warns about the increasing number of executions in Iran, and calls on all global bodies to take urgent action to stop the brutal mass killings of prisoners in Iran. We believe that inaction in the face of this state- sanctioned massacre of prisoners, will further lead to the denial of the right to life for an even greater number of prisoners.
Summary of Human Rights Violations from September 20 – October 20
- At least 157 prisoners executed
- Death sentences issued for 8 prisoners, and the Supreme Court confirmed 1 death sentence
- At least 75 citizens arrested
- 2 prisoners died due to lack of medical care, and 1 prisoner died under suspicious circumstances, four days after being released from an Intelligence Detention Center
- Lash sentences issued for 16 defendants, including one political prisoner and one media activist
- Sentences of imprisonment and fines for 58 defendants, totaling 246 years, 8 months, and 25 days of imprisonment, and fines amounting to 1.029 billion tomans.
- At least 3 convicts were detained for enforcement of their sentences.
- 110 workers died, including the deaths of 53 coal miners, and at least 133 workers were injured due to workplace accidents.
- At least 100 workers were dismissed.
- More than 370 protest actions held by various groups of people
Full report:
Monthly Report on Human Rights Violations in Iran
September 20 – October 20, 2024
Summary of Human Rights Violations from September 20 – October 20
- At least 157 prisoners executed
- Death sentences issued for 8 prisoners, and the Supreme Court confirmed 1 death sentence
- At least 75 citizens arrested
- 2 prisoners died due to lack of medical care, and 1 prisoner died under suspicious circumstances, four days after being released from an Intelligence Detention Center
- Lash sentences issued for 16 defendants, including one political prisoner and one media activist
- Sentences of imprisonment and fines for 58 defendants, totaling 246 years, 8 months, and 25 days of imprisonment, and fines amounting to 1.029 billion tomans.
- At least 3 convicts were detained for enforcement of their sentences.
- 110 workers died, including the deaths of 53 coal miners, and at least 133 workers were injured due to workplace accidents.
- At least 100 workers were dismissed.
- More than 370 protest actions held by various groups of people
Introduction
According to the Statistics Center of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, during the second month of Pezhkian’s administration, an unprecedented increase in executions reached at least 157 prisoners, breaking the record of executions in recent years. This level of state-sanctioned killing of prisoners had not been seen, even during Raisi’s presidency, who was known as the “Ayatollah of massacre.” The highest monthly execution count during Raisi’s presidency occurred in May of this year, with 128 cases, whereas in October, the second month of Pezhkian’s presidency, this figure rose to 157 executions.
Amid heightened tensions and clashes with Israel, the expansion of regional conflict, and a fear of growing social unrest, officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have recklessly engaged in a mass execution of prisoners. From the beginning, the Islamic Republic has employed executions as a means of exerting control and dominance over society and suppressing the formation of social protests. Now, on the brink of a conflict whose likelihood grows each day, we are witnessing a widespread execution of prisoners in prisons.
On average, officials of the Islamic Republic have executed five prisoners daily, meaning one person have been hanged every four hours.
Recalling the hunger strikes by prisoners in 23 prisons across the country to draw international attention to the issue of executions in Iran, the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, warns about the increasing rate of executions in Iran and calls on all international organizations to take immediate action to stop the brutal killing of prisoners. The League believes that inaction in response to the mass killing of prisoners, will only further strip prisoners in Iran of their right to life.
Execution figures in October 2024
According to the Statistics Center of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, from September 20- October 20, at least 157 prisoners were hanged across various
prisons in Iran. Since the beginning of the Persian calendar year (March 20, 2024), a total of 552 executions have been carried out Iran.
The chart below shows the execution figures over the past seven months. As seen, the number of executions has increased by 128% compared to the previous month.
In October, we witnessed a concerning increase in executions amid conditions under the threat of war. During this month, approximately one prisoner was executed every five hours. Among those executed, 61 prisoners faced drug-related charges, 84 were charged with murder, 2 with “waging war against God” (moharebeh) through armed robbery, and 10 with rape.
Out of the 157 executions, only 17 cases were reported by state media, while the remaining 140 were verified and revealed by the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran. In October, two prisoners were publicly executed for allegedly killing a law enforcement officer. These prisoners, identified as Reza Rashno Sadeghi and Haji Kaboudvand, were executed publicly in the city of Khomein. At least four female prisoners were also executed this month. Additionally, according to the Statistics Center of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, at least three juvenile offenders were among those executed. Parssa Hassanzadeh, Milad Ekhlaaspour, and Mehdi Barahouei, were all under 18 years old at the time of the alleged crimes.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has signed, it is prohibited to execute individuals who were under 18 at the time of their offense. However, Iranian authorities disregard this convention, holding juvenile offenders in detention until they reach the legal age for execution.
Issuance of Death Sentences
In October, death sentences were issued for at least eight prisoners, and the sentence of one prisoner was upheld by the Supreme Court. Political prisoner
Javad Vafaee Thani, currently held in Mashhad Prison, was sentenced to death for the third time by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. His previous two death sentences had been overturned by the Supreme Court. Another political prisoner, Hamid Hasan Nejad Heidaranlou, was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court on charges of rebellion (baghy). This sentence had been issued earlier but was exposed by human rights activists in October. Death sentences were also issued for five prisoners accused of murder, one accused of espionage, and one accused of rape, whose sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in October.
Issuance of Flogging Sentences
Last month, at least 16 individuals were sentenced to flogging. Political prisoner Arsham Rezaei, in a new case opened against him while in prison, was sentenced to 50 lashes. Mostafa Ahmadi, a media activist and director of the Porseman group, was sentenced to 70 lashes on charges of disrupting public order by participating in illegal gatherings. Additionally, an Afghan national was sentenced to 150 lashes for alcohol consumption, and another individual received an 80-lash sentence for the same charge. Moreover, thirteen citizens were sentenced to flogging for disrupting public order and displaying weapons (knives) in a group altercation.
Arrest of Citizens
Over the past month, at least 75 citizens were arrested. Among those were families of political activists, justice seekers, former political prisoners, journalists, attorneys, security personnel from Makki Mosque, Shia clerics, Sunni students, cultural and labor activists, social media activists, some members of the Bahá’í community, and other citizens, detained under various charges.
According to a statement by the public relations office of the IRGC, 12 citizens across 6 provinces were detained by the IRGC Intelligence Organization on accusations of collaborating with the Israeli regime. The head of the Cyber Police (FATA) in Bushehr Province reported that seven women and young girls were detained on charges of creating and sharing “unethical” content on Instagram.
Deaths of Prisoners
In addition to executions, the neglect of prisoners’ health, lack of healthcare services, denial of access to hospitals, and inadequate medical care are frequently used as tools of torture against prisoners. Prisoners charged with regular crimes in various prisons receive no medical attention. Hospital transfers are rare, and the treatment of sick prisoners is often left incomplete.
Last month, a death row prisoner named Mahmoud Dahmardeh died in Zabol Prison after a heart attack due to lack of medical care. In the same prison, another prisoner, Noor Ali Kouhkan, aged 40, also passed away due to lack of medical attention. Sana Farhadi, a political prisoner, died under suspicious circumstances four days after being released from the detention center of the Intelligence Department in Sanandaj. Similar cases of prisoner deaths shortly after release have been frequently reported.
Sentences of Imprisonment and Arrest for Enforcement of Sentences
During the last month, at least 58 political and ideological defendants from various social backgrounds received prison sentences or fines in court, and three political convicts were detained to enforce their sentences. In total, these individuals were sentenced to 246 years, 8 months, and 25 days of imprisonment, along with fines amounting to 1.29 billion tomans.
Those sentenced include members of justice-seeking families, political activists, political prisoners, attorneys, journalists, labor activists, ethnic activists, and members of the Bahá’í community. Five female political prisoners—named Varisheh Moradi, Pakhshan Azizi, Mahboubeh Rezaei, Narges Mohammadi, and Pariyvash Moslemi—received additional prison terms on charges of confronting officers and defying their orders.
Worker Dismissals
During the last one month, 60 workers from the Lorestan Glass Factory were dismissed due to alleged financial shortages, tax increases, and rising raw material costs. Additionally, 40 workers from the Joghatai Ferrochrome Factory were laid off, reportedly due to reduced production and exports.
Worker Incidents
The most significant labor incident last month involved an explosion at the Ma’dan Joo Coal Mine in Tabas due to methane gas emissions, resulting in the death of 53 miners and injuries to 20 others. Three of the injured workers later died from severe injuries. The explosion occurred amid insufficient ventilation, lack of gas monitoring, outdated mining equipment, and the absence of a gas exhaust system and minimum safety standards.
The head of the Khorasan Islamic Council stated, “We lack adequate equipment and do not have methane gas sensors. If we had the same methane gas sensors as the central mine, this incident would not have happened.”
According to the latest report submitted to parliament, there was a 15-minute golden window for rescuing the miners, but the mine’s management failed to take necessary action, leading to this tragedy. This incident is reminiscent of the Yurt Coal Mine explosion in Golestan Province in May 2017.
Over the past three years, at least 10 workers have lost their lives at the Tarzeh Coal Mine due to work-related incidents. Employer exploitation is so widely supported by the ruling authorities that employer negligence, lack of safety equipment, and their noncompliance with their civil responsibilities are ignored, and no one is held accountable.
Due to inadequate safety measures and poor working conditions, at least 110 workers lost their lives, and 133 others were injured while working last month. Major factors contributing to labor incidents include lack of standardized safety and health equipment, insufficient training and oversight, absence of adequate equipment, employer exploitation, and failure to enforce proper safety regulations.
According to official figures announced by the relevant authorities, over 2,000 workers lose their lives annually due to work-related incidents. However, the deaths of informal workers, such as porters across the border and fuel carriers, are not included in these official statistics. According to Tejarat News, six construction workers lose their lives daily due to work-related incidents.
The Director General of Forensic Medicine in Hamadan, Mohammad Malmir, reported that 19 workers in the province lost their lives due to work-related incidents in the first six months of the Persian calendar year (since March 20, 2024). According to the Deputy Director for Crime Prevention of Bushehr Province’s judiciary, since the start of the current year, 27 individuals have died, and 300 have been injured in work-related incidents. The Director General of Forensic Medicine in Mazandaran Province stated that in the first six months of the Persian calendar year, 55 workers died, and 457 workers visited forensic facilities due to work-related injuries.
Nationwide Protests
Over the past month, more than 370 gatherings, marches, and protests were organized by various groups of people. Weekly demonstrations and gatherings of retirees from social security, telecommunications, and the steel industry continued persistently, protesting poor living conditions, low wages, wages that don’t keep up with inflation, growing poverty, and rising prices. Additional demands included adjustments to pensions, improvements in welfare services, free medical treatment, and more.
In addition to these demands, telecommunications retirees continued their protests against the ongoing injustices perpetrated by the primary shareholders, including the Executive Headquarters of Imam Khomeini’s Order and the IRGC Cooperation
Foundation. Workers from various sectors, including the oil industry, drivers, fraud victims, nurses, and other groups, held gatherings and protests, voicing concerns over deteriorating living conditions and unaddressed grievances.
Oil industry employees organized protests, marches, and strikes, demanding wage increases, the removal of contractors from oil, gas, and power sectors, the implementation of a 14-day work and 14-day rest schedule per month, and the alignment of wages and working conditions with those of official oil, gas, and power plant workers. These workers also called for equal employment benefits, similar to those of formal oil industry workers. Workers from oil and gas companies continued their protests, primarily demanding the removal of salary caps, adjustments to minimum wages, the lifting of seniority limits, and the full implementation of Article 10 of the Oil Law.
Additionally, workers at Pars refineries held gatherings and marches in protest of incomplete wage payments.
The Tuesday hunger strikes of political prisoners protesting the death penalty expanded to 23 prisons. Prisoners in Evin (women’s ward, Wards 4, 6, and 8), Ghezel Hesar (Units 3 and 4), Greater Tehran Central Prison, Karaj Central Prison, Khorramabad, Khoy, Mashhad, Naqadeh, Saqqez, Ardabil, Qaem Shahr, Urmia, Marivan, Kamyaran, Baneh, Salmas, Shiraz, Rasht, Tabriz, Isfahan, Bam, and Arak have been engaging in hunger strikes each Tuesday, marking the 39th consecutive week of their protest against death sentences.