Iran increasing executions of political activists, 114 put to death since Hamas attack

TEHRAN — The non-profit human rights watchdog Iran Human Rights revealed this week that a staggering 114 individuals have been executed since 7 October.

The organization’s report underscores Tehran’s heightened campaign of executions against its opponents, with the latest victims being three Baloch political prisoners executed just last Monday.

Earlier revelations detailed a mass execution of at least 10 prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, located west of Tehran.

The surge in executions comes in the wake of heightened tensions following popular protests triggered by the state murder of Zhina “Mahsa” Amini in September 2022. Iran’s acceleration of the pace of executions raises concerns about the use of the death penalty as a tool to suppress and intimidate political opponents.

Human rights groups have vociferously condemned Iran’s approach, highlighting the grave abuse of the death penalty and its potential impact on stifling dissent and opposition within the country. The alarming number of executions further underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.