Islamic Republic and an Alarming Record; Thousands of Executions in the Shadow of Official Silence

While human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the dramatic increase in execution sentences in Iran, reports indicate that in just one day, at least three prisoners were executed in Zahedan Prison. These executions occur as the Islamic Republic continues to have one of the highest execution rates in the world, and many human rights activists view this punishment as a tool for creating an atmosphere of terror and social control in the country.

According to reports published by human rights sources, early morning on Wednesday, June 27 (June 17 in the Western calendar), at least three prisoners were executed in Zahedan Prison. Previously, news of the execution of “Abdullah Jalali” had been released, but supplementary reports indicate that two other prisoners also lost their lives due to execution orders on the same day.

One of these individuals was “Zaher Shahozahi” (Gorgij), a 40-year-old married man and father of three children from Zahedan. According to reports, he was arrested approximately three years ago on charges related to narcotics and, after going through legal proceedings, was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

Another prisoner was also executed in the same prison on non-political charges, but at the time of the report’s publication, his identity had not been officially confirmed.

What is noteworthy is that, like many similar cases, judicial authorities and officials of Zahedan Prison have so far released no official announcement about these executions. The lack of transparency in the execution process and the refusal of government institutions to provide public information have always been among the main criticisms of human rights organizations regarding the Islamic Republic’s performance.

The recent executions occur as the annual report on the state of human rights in Iran presents an alarming picture of the expanded use of capital punishment. According to this report, at least 2,488 people were executed in Iran in 2024; a figure that includes 63 women and two juvenile offenders. Additionally, 13 of these sentences were carried out publicly; an action that has been criticized by many international organizations as a violation of human dignity.

Human rights activists believe that the increase in the number of executions in recent years is not merely a judicial issue, but rather a reflection of an approach that, instead of structural reforms and addressing the root causes of social problems, relies on severe and irreversible punishments. They warn that the continuation of this trend has increasingly exposed Iran to international criticism and intensified concerns about the state of human rights in the country.

For many human rights advocates and Christian leaders, the value of human life and the right to fair trial are fundamental principles that should not be sacrificed to harsh criminal policies. Therefore, the continuous increase in executions in Iran remains one of the most serious concerns of the international community and human rights organizations.