The Iranian government has notably increased the execution rate of dissidents and activists, though the true scale of these actions is likely hidden due to stringent internet restrictions and blackouts imposed by the regime.
Since the uprising began in January, the Iranian authorities have launched a severe crackdown on dissent. The Iranian Human Rights Association reported that there have been 784 executions. A representative explained to Fox News Digital that “these figures illustrate a worrying rise in executions since March, particularly among political prisoners, marking the highest levels seen in 37 years.”
A State Department official expressed concern, stating, “We are aware of disturbing reports regarding the recent spike in executions in Iran.” They firmly condemned the regime’s actions, citing the use of executions to suppress fundamental human rights, including the rights of Iranians protesting peacefully for their futures.
The official also highlighted that for decades, Iranians have suffered through torture and unfair trials, with forced confessions often being the sole evidence leading to harsh penalties. According to data provided to Fox News Digital by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), at least 18 executions occurred between May 31 and June 1 alone. Twelve of these were hanged on May 31, including one public execution described as particularly brutal.
The NCRI documented a total of 32 executions from March 19 to June 1, which included eight members of the opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and 24 participants from the protests in January. On June 7, the NCRI reported that five political prisoners in Sheyban Prison faced imminent execution, four of whom were charged as members of the PMOI/MEK.
Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s designated president, called for urgent action from the United Nations to halt these executions. She expressed her dismay over the regime’s actions, referring to the latest executions as “another horrific crime in Iran.” Rajavi urged the UN Security Council and the European Union to strongly denounce these executions and take decisive steps to prevent further killings.
The Iranian Human Rights Association confirmed the NCRI’s findings concerning the recent executions, noting that despite internet outages, they receive information through a network of prison contacts, families, and lawyers. They emphasized that all information is rigorously vetted and cross-checked before publication, stating, “While the internet restrictions complicate our work, we continue to verify and document what’s happening.”
Alp Toker, from global internet monitoring company Netblox, mentioned that internet services in Iran have been partially restored but remain limited compared to pre-protest conditions. He noted that there haven’t been significant changes following the restoration.
While the Iranian Human Rights Association estimated that the actual number of executions could be much higher, potentially due to secretive actions taken by authorities, they expressed concerns about delays in information reaching them, especially from remote areas.
On June 20, a mass rally is planned in Paris, expected to draw up to 100,000 Iranian expatriates from various regions, advocating for an end to executions. This event will also feature participation from over 100 parliamentarians, officials, former leaders, and ministers.
