Sentenced to the gallows: Mullahs carry out 26 executions in February

Robier al-Fares

The Iranian regime has resorted to the death penalty as a means to create fear and terror in society to control the situation, fearing popular uprisings and the risk of being toppled. Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMIO) recorded at least 26 executions in Iran during February 2021. Four of those executed were political prisoners in Ahvaz.

Maryam Rajavi, president of the Iranian Resistance, said that the criminal mullah regime, which is mired in intractable crises domestically and internationally, has resorted to the gallows, noting that the regime cannot go even one day without torture and execution. She added that the regime’s crimes must be referred to the UN Security Council and its leaders must be brought to justice.

Execution

In February 2021, at least 26 prisoners were executed in prisons in different cities on charges of war, murder and drugs. Among the executed prisoners were two women, and ages of those sentenced to death ranged from 25 to 42 years old.

The executions were carried out in Shiraz Central Prison, Ardabil Central Prison, Birjand Central Prison, Meshkin Shahr, Nur, Borujerd Central Prison, Gohardasht, Arak, and Shaban, as well as an unknown location in Tehran.

Executed political prisoners

On February 28, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s executioners put to death four Arab political prisoners in Shayban Prison in Ahvaz for war charges, namely Jasem Heidari, Hossein Silavi, Ali Khasarji and Nasir Khafajian.

Died in prison

Hadi Rostami, a prisoner in Urmia Central Prison, committed suicide by eating glass to protest his detention in a safe ward and the risk of his execution by amputating his fingers.

Behnam Mahjoubi, a political prisoner and Gonabadi Sufi dervish, died in Evin Prison due to drug poisoning and a deliberate delay in sending him to hospital for a few days, which was deliberate torture.

Arrests

In February, 218 people were arrested on various charges.

Political arrests

Security agents, Ministry of Intelligence personnel, Revolutionary Guard forces and Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA) arrested 56 people on various charges such as cooperation with the PMOI, participation in the Saravan Uprising, cooperation with Kurdish parties, filming the repressive actions of Revolutionary Guard forces, membership in Salafist groups, and relationship with a political activist.

Physical torture

A prisoner was tortured and raped in Qom Central Prison.

Mehrdad Taleshi was arrested by security men in Tehran and tortured to death in the Shahpur police department.

Political prisoner Akbar Rashidi was beaten and tortured in Urmia Central Prison, disabling him by more than 80%.

Denying prisoners access to treatment

Reza Moradiani, a political prisoner in the Greater Tehran Prison, was in an emergency situation but was prevented from being sent to the hospital.

Akbar Faraji, a political prisoner in the Greater Tehran Prison, suffers from various conditions, but the authorities put obstacles in sending him to the hospital.

Ali Bagheri and Mohammad Najafi, two political detainees in Arak prison, are both patients but are deprived of sick leave.

Journalist Reza Taleshian Jelodarzadeh, being held in the Greater Tehran Prison, was prevented from being sent to the hospital despite suffering from epileptic seizures.

Representative Masoud Hajipour, a political detainee in Urmia Central Prison, was denied medical treatment or being sent to the hospital despite a broken leg.

Gholam Hossein Kalbi, a political prisoner in Sheiban Prison, was forbidden from being transferred to the hospital despite suffering severe burns.

Arbitrary killing

In February 2021, a number of porters, fuel transporters and civilians were killed in different governorates by the police, the Border Regiment and the Revolutionary Guard.