ALBAWABA - Iran Human Rights (IHR) and the Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) published a report citing a 75 percent increase in executions in Iran in 2022.
The Norway-based and Paris-based human rights groups said Thursday that Iran executed 582 people last year, the highest since 2015 and well above 2021's figure of 333.
"If it weren’t for the media coverage and international pressure in the early days and weeks, Toomaj might not be alive today..."
— IranHumanRights.org (@ICHRI) April 6, 2023
Toomaj Salehi is facing possible execution in Iran.
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According to the rights groups, the rise in executions in the Islamic Republic aimed at spreading fear among protesters who joined nationwide demonstrations in September against the death of Iranian activist Mahsa Amini.
Amini, 22, was allegedly killed in the custody of Iran's morality police on Sept. 16 after three days of detention for allegedly violating the country's dress code by wearing the hijab improperly.
According to Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based non-governmental organization, at least 481 protesters were killed by security forces for joining the demonstrations.
The Islamic Republic in #Iran, executes innocent protesters #حميدرضا_روحی and then arrests his family members to force them change his grave stone #IranRevoIution https://t.co/cQCgjo2c4z
— Seda Irani (@WiseOldAunt) April 5, 2023
AFP cited IHR director Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam as saying that the "international reactions to the death sentences against protesters have made it difficult for the Islamic Republic to proceed with its executions."
He maintained: "To compensate, and in order to spread fear among people, the authorities have intensified the execution for non-political charges. These are the low-cost victims of the Islamic Republic's execution machine."
