BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 10, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
The execution spree continues in Iran under the religious fascism ruling. Khamenei’s henchmen hanged 11 prisoners on May 1 and 5 prisoners on May 2, bringing the total number of prisoners executed in the past two weeks to 74, including two women.
In another criminal act, the regime’s judiciary accused 47-year-old political prisoner Masoud Jamei of corruption on earth, membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, the MEK, and conspiracy to overthrow the government.
On May 6th, Congressmen Steve Cohen from Tennessee and Tom McClintock from California, the bi-partisan co-chairs of Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, profoundly condemned Tehran’s execution spree. They stated, “We implore the US Administration to use all diplomatic and economic tools at its disposal to hold the Iranian regime accountable.”
The intensified repressive tactics also include tightening control over citizens’ online activities, which is spearheaded by the head of the Cyber Police division of the State Security Forces. This move underscores the regime’s persistent efforts to curb dissent and impose political and social conformity.
Meanwhile, there has been a heightened crackdown by the authorities on women to adhere to strict compulsory hijab regulations.
Fearing his regime’s collapse, Khamenei is not shying away from any crime to silence dissent. The West’s inaction has emboldened him.
The Iranian Resistance calls for urgent international action to save the lives of political prisoners on death row, to refer the case of human rights violations by this regime to the UN Security Council, and to bring its leaders to justice.