The human rights situation in Iran is rapidly deteriorating, with an increase of political executions of prisoners in recent months. According to the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), there has been a total of 66 executions within the month of April, with three female prisoners and 56 men among the victims.
The identity of Soraya Mohammadi, one of the female prisoners executed in April 2024, has been revealed. Mohammadi was executed on 24 April in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
Within the first three days of May, at least six more prisoners have been executed. On 1 May, five inmates were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, among them, a Kurdish prisoner of 14 years, Anvar Khezri. On 3 May, another inmate was killed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah.
Furthermore, 16 death sentences were handed down in April, with the most well-known case being Iranian protest rapper Toomaj Salehi, who received his death sentence for “spreading corruption on earth”. This decision has sparked outrage both within Iran and internationally, with many condemning the punishment and advocating for Salehi’s release.
At the moment, the prisoners Khosrow Besharat and Reza Rasai have been transferred to solitary confinement, raising concerns about their imminent executions.
Repression of freedom of expression is also worsening, exemplified by the imprisonment of human rights defender Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi for their activism. Their arrests were a result of their support for students’ rights.
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders has released its annual World Press Freedom report. According to this report, Iran ranks 176th out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom and the safety of journalists.
