Rights groups warn Iran is increasing executions during war

Rights groups say Iran has executed dozens of political prisoners since the war with the United States and Israel began, and fear the pace could increase after the breakdown of a ceasefire.

Vahid Baniamerian, a 34-year-old academic who taught physics, was sentenced to death with five other men on charges of membership of the outlawed People's Mujahedin organisation. All six have been hanged. A close relative outside Iran said Baniamerian's family learned he was about to be executed only when Iranian state media reported that the supreme court would review his sentence. The relative said the family and lawyer had not been warned.

Rights groups say those executed since the start of the war include protesters, alleged members of banned groups and people convicted of spying. Iran has continued executions since the earliest phase of the war ended in March. Activists say the authorities are trying to create fear and prevent a repeat of protests that shook the leadership earlier this year.

The political situation is also tense after the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war and his replacement by his son Mojtaba, who has not appeared in public, the report said.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Iran Human Rights organisation, said the group is concerned that authorities will use the renewed war to increase executions of political prisoners. The group says hundreds of political prisoners and protesters currently face capital charges, with around 100 already sentenced to death. It says more than 70 people are awaiting execution in Dastgerd prison in Isfahan.

According to Iran Human Rights, 24 people have been hanged over January protests since the start of the war, and two others have been executed over a protest movement between 2022 and 2023. The group says 13 men have been executed for alleged links to the MEK and other banned groups, and 10 people have been hanged on espionage accusations. Authorities say people convicted in protest-related cases carried out deadly attacks on security forces or targeted public buildings, while rights groups say defendants were tortured and convicted after unfair fast-track trials.

Iran Human Rights says more than 400 people have been executed in Iran so far this year. It says most executions are for drug-related offences or murder, rather than political cases.

At Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj, outside Tehran, inmates have held a sit-in since July 13 after fellow prisoners were moved to solitary confinement before being hanged on drug charges. Footage shared by rights groups on social media showed inmates sitting outside cells and chanting against executions. A prisoner statement seen by AFP said many prisoners had committed offences because of poverty and regretted their actions.

Amnesty International says Iran executed more than 2,150 people last year, making it the world's most prolific executioner after China by a wide margin.

Baniamerian's relative described him as kind, humble and responsible. The relative said he tried to encourage other inmates before his execution and sent an audio message to his mother after their final meeting. A video smuggled out of prison showed him singing a patriotic song in the prison yard before his execution, according to the report.