A Stark Example of Injustice, Human Rights Violations, and State-Orchestrated Framing
At dawn on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the execution of political prisoner Mojahed Kourkour, a resident of Izeh, was carried out in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz. This sentence was executed under a cloud of ambiguity, without a fair trial, without access to a lawyer of his choice, and amid numerous reports of torture and forced confessions. This action has once again raised concerns among public opinion and human rights organizations about the unjust conduct of Iran’s judiciary and its instrumental use of the death penalty as a means of repression.
Violent Arrest and Injuries
Mojahed Kourkour was arrested on December 20, 2022, during a large-scale military assault by security forces on his private residence in the village of Persila, Izeh. Armed agents, using semi-heavy military equipment, attacked the house, riddled it with bullets, and detonated it, killing Hossein Saeedi and Mahmoud Ahmadi, while wounding and arresting two others, including Kourkour himself.
A State-Orchestrated Narrative to Cover Up the Murder of Kian Pirfalak
In an effort to cover up the state’s responsibility in the killing of Kian Pirfalak, Iranian authorities attempted to frame Mojahed Kourkour and other young people in Izeh as the perpetrators of the crime. This narrative was meant to exonerate the actual culprits within the security forces. Earlier this year, Kian’s father released a video stating: “I have no complaint against Mojahed Kourkour or the people of Izeh. My wife and I saw with our own eyes that the security forces, under the command of Eydi Alipour, opened fire on our vehicle, wounded me, and killed my son.”
Kourkour’s Detention and Prison Conditions
Mojahed Kourkour was held in solitary confinement in Sheyban Prison for over a year. Prison officials reportedly told him he would not be transferred to the general ward because his family had been publicly speaking out about his case. Due to the poor quality of food in Sheyban Prison, his health had deteriorated. Other inmates had attempted to provide him with food, but once this was discovered by prison authorities, that too was stopped.
Torture and Forced Confessions
Kourkour endured 45 days of physical and psychological torture while in solitary confinement. His arrest was marked by extreme violence, including being severely wounded during the initial military raid. The use of such force not only violates basic human dignity but also constitutes a breach of the right to life.
Shifting Charges and Fabricated Evidence
Initially, Iranian authorities accused Kourkour of the murder of the late Kian Pirfalak. However, the child’s mother, Mahmonir Molaeirad, publicly stated that her son had been shot by security forces—not by Kourkour. Kian’s father also confirmed this in a widely circulated video, testifying that it was the forces under Eydi Alipour’s command who opened fire on their car.
Following these revelations, authorities abruptly shifted the charges against Kourkour from murder to “corruption on earth,” “moharebeh” (waging war against God), and “baghi” (armed rebellion). This abrupt change strongly suggests a deliberate effort to fabricate charges against a protester and shield the actual perpetrators within the security forces.
Unfair Trial and Lack of Due Process
Throughout his arrest and trial, Kourkour was denied access to a lawyer of his own choosing and was only allowed to meet his family once. He repeatedly stated that he was tortured into confessing and that the judicial process was entirely controlled by security forces.
Initially, the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz sentenced him to death. Though the Supreme Court later overturned the sentence and referred the case to a parallel branch, Branch 3 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court once again issued a death sentence. Attempts by court-appointed lawyers to invoke Article 477 for a retrial were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the execution was carried out in secrecy and without media transparency.
Psychological Torture Through Prolonged Solitary Confinement
Holding Kourkour in solitary confinement for over a year amounts to psychological torture. Officials explicitly stated that this punitive isolation was a response to his family’s public advocacy. The inhumane prison conditions further deteriorated his health, and even the minimal support he received from fellow inmates was halted by prison authorities.
Secrecy and Lack of Judicial Transparency
The state-affiliated Mizan News Agency published only a brief note confirming Kourkour’s execution, omitting details regarding the time, method, or conditions of the execution. According to international human rights standards, governments are obligated to ensure transparency in judicial proceedings and provide relevant information to both the public and the victim’s family.
