Update – December 2024:
Due to the Iranian regime’s systematic practice of concealing executions, we have meticulously reviewed and verified the data collected throughout the year. Following thorough investigations and confirmations, we can now report an updated figure for November 2024. The number of executions during this month has been revised to 150, reflecting an increase of three additional cases that have been corroborated since our initial report.
This report provides an in-depth account of human rights violations in Iran during November 2024, with a particular focus on the alarming escalation in executions and systemic abuses. At least 147 individuals, including four women, two juvenile offenders, a Jewish-Iranian citizen, and an individual with intellectual disabilities, were executed across various prisons. On average, more than four people were executed every day, reflecting a sharp increase in the regime’s use of the death penalty as a tool of repression.
Among the most egregious violations:
- The execution of two minors for crimes allegedly committed when they were under 18, in blatant contravention of international human rights law.
- The execution of Ezzat Saeedi, a man with intellectual disabilities.
- Public executions and mass hangings, with 27 prisoners executed in just four days, averaging one execution every 3.5 hours during that period.
This report also documents the death of Ghafar Akbari, who succumbed to severe injuries after enduring weeks of torture at a police station in Malekan. Additionally, six political prisoners were sentenced to death following harsh interrogations and trials that lacked due process, highlighting the regime’s continued persecution of dissenting voices.
The cases documented this month underscore the Iranian government’s systemic violations of international law, targeting vulnerable groups, political opponents, and minorities. This intensification of state violence demands urgent international attention and action.
Widespread Executions in November 2024
The Iranian regime intensified its use of the death penalty, executing at least 147 individuals in various prisons across the country. Among those executed were:
Four women, including two executed in Ilam Prison on December 2.
A Jewish-Iranian citizen, highlighting ongoing persecution of minorities.
An individual with intellectual disabilities, raising concerns about violations of international human rights standards.
Executions of Juvenile Offenders
Two juvenile offenders were executed for crimes committed when they were minors:
Arvin Ghahremani, a 20-year-old Jewish-Iranian from Bukan, was executed in Kermanshah. Arrested at 18 and convicted of murder, Arvin was denied a fair trial and access to appropriate legal representation.
Esmail Barkzai, an 18-year-old Afghan national residing in Yazd, was executed for a crime he allegedly committed at 16.
Execution of Vulnerable Individuals
Ezzat Saeedi, a prisoner with intellectual disabilities, was executed in Zanjan Prison. According to his family, Ezzat lacked the capacity to fully comprehend his legal situation or the charges against him, violating fundamental principles of justice.
Public Executions and Mass Hangings
The regime continued the practice of public executions, reinforcing a climate of fear and repression.
On November 12, one individual was publicly executed in Hamedan.
The week of November 25–28 saw an alarming escalation, with 27 executions carried out in multiple prisons, averaging one execution every 3.5 hours.
Notable mass executions included:
- November 13: Dubbed a “bloody Wednesday,” at least 11 prisoners were hanged, with victims executed in Qezelhessar Prison, Kashan, Shiraz, and Jiroft.
- November 6: The regime executed 16 prisoners, including 11 in Qezelhessar Prison and others in Khorramabad, Ahar, Shiraz, and Zanjan.
Deaths Due to Torture
The regime’s use of torture to extract confessions and instill fear resulted in the death of at least one individual this month:
Ghafar Akbari died on November 16 after enduring three weeks of brutal torture at a police station in Malekan. Despite his critical condition, prosecutor Morteza Olyanasab and investigator Akbar Salmanpour obstructed his transfer to a hospital, directly contributing to his death.
Execution of Political Prisoners
The Iranian judiciary continues to target political dissent through arrests, torture, and death sentences. Six political prisoners were sentenced to death in November:
- Abolhassan Montazer (65), an architecture graduate with significant health issues, detained multiple times since the 1980s.
- Pouya Ghobadi (32), an electrical engineer arrested in March 2024, previously detained twice.
- Vahid Bani-Amrian (32), a management graduate with a history of arbitrary arrests since 2017.
- Babak Alipour (33), a law graduate arrested in January 2024, previously imprisoned for four years.
- Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar (57), a civil engineer detained in January 2024.
- Mohammad Taghavi (58), a veteran political prisoner from the 1980s and 1990s, arrested multiple times and subjected to harsh conditions.
These prisoners were charged with crimes such as:
- Membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
- “Collusion and conspiracy against national security.”
- “Armed rebellion against the government.”
Their sentences followed months of interrogation and alleged torture, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, head of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 26.
Broader Patterns of Abuse
The documented cases in November 2024 reveal systemic violations, including:
- Arbitrary Arrests: Many detainees, including political prisoners, are arrested without warrants and held without due process.
- Expedited Trials: Defendants are often denied access to legal counsel and subjected to sham trials leading to harsh sentences.
- Targeting Vulnerable Groups: The execution of juveniles, minorities, and individuals with disabilities underscores a gross disregard for international human rights norms.
- Use of Public Executions: The practice of public hangings perpetuates a climate of fear and control over the population.
Call to Action
Iran HRM urges the international community to take immediate action, including:
- Condemning Iran’s Use of the Death Penalty: Advocacy for a global moratorium on executions, particularly for juvenile offenders and vulnerable individuals.
- Demanding Accountability: Pressuring Iranian officials to end torture and ensure due process for all detainees.
- Supporting Victims and Families: Providing resources and platforms for victims’ families to seek justice and raise awareness about abuses.
The human rights violations documented this month highlight the regime’s ongoing campaign of repression, requiring robust international response to prevent further atrocities.
