On Sunday, December 15, Iran’s central prisons in Yazd and Zahedan became sites of harrowing human rights violations as 11 individuals, including 9 Baluch prisoners, 1 Kurdish prisoner, and 1 woman, were executed. Despite repeated warnings from human rights activists, these individuals—convicted on charges ranging from drug-related offenses to murder—met their deaths in a single day.
The Executed: Identities and Circumstances
Among those executed were 36-year-old Mohammad Ali Kharkouhi and 43-year-old Reza Kharkouhi, along with three members of the Totazehi family: Abdol Baset, Abdol Nasser, and Nematollah Totazehi. These individuals, many of whom had large families relying on them, were arrested and sentenced to death years ago for alleged drug-related crimes. Local reports indicate that Reza Kharkouhi became physically disabled due to medical neglect in prison and had been using a wheelchair in his final years.
In Zahedan prison, four more Baluch prisoners were hanged. They were identified as 45-year-old Mohammad Wazir Rudini, 37-year-old Alireza Golebacheh, 22-year-old Elias Tardast, and Yaqoub Barahui Moghadam. Like their counterparts in Yazd, they too faced drug-related charges.
A Disproportionate Burden on Marginalized Communities
The Baluch community, which constitutes only 5-6% of Iran’s population, consistently accounts for a disproportionate number of executions. Many of those executed come from deprived and marginalized sectors of society, burdened with the responsibility of supporting large families amid dire economic conditions. International organizations and human rights experts have repeatedly called for the abolition of the death penalty, particularly for drug-related offenses, citing its ineffectiveness and inhumanity.
A Broader Pattern of Execution
Human rights reports reveal a grim pattern: at least 34 prisoners were executed across Iran between Wednesday, December 11, and Sunday, December 15. These executions occurred in various cities, including Arak, Isfahan, Khorramabad, Zahedan, Shiraz, Karaj, Mashhad, Malayer, Miandoab, and Yazd.
The escalating use of the death penalty has not been limited to drug-related offenses. Recent weeks have seen a sharp increase in the execution of political prisoners, ethnic minorities, and even foreign nationals. Over 300 people have been executed in the past two months alone, with authorities continuing to issue mass death sentences.
Protests and Resistance
This surge in executions has sparked widespread protests both within and outside Iran. One notable act of resistance is the “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign, a hunger strike movement launched by political prisoners in January 2024. As of December 10, this campaign had entered its 46th week, spanning 25 prisons across the country.
Calls for Change
The executions underscore the urgent need for international attention and intervention. Human rights advocates continue to emphasize the importance of revising Iran’s criminal policies, particularly regarding the death penalty for non-violent offenses. The disproportionate targeting of marginalized groups and political dissenters further highlights systemic injustices that demand global scrutiny.
As Iran persists in its use of the death penalty, the international community must amplify its calls for justice and human rights. Without significant reform, the cycle of repression and violence will continue to claim the lives of those already marginalized and oppressed.
Source » irannewsupdate