Two individuals affiliated with an opposing militant group have been put to death by Iranian authorities
In Tehran, the Iranian judiciary has executed two men, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo, accused of waging war against the state and plotting to undermine national security. The men were found guilty of manufacturing and using homemade projectiles to target civilian infrastructure in the city, including homes, public buildings, charitable institutions, educational centers, and service and administrative facilities.
The two men were reportedly members of the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), a leftist-Islamist group designated as a terrorist organisation by Iran. They operated from a secret location, establishing a team house to build launchers and portable mortars in line with MEK objectives, indiscriminately firing them at civilian targets.
Their activities also extended to propaganda and intelligence-gathering activities in support of the MEK, an opposition group that opposes the Islamic Republic in Iran, with its leadership operating in exile.
The men faced charges including waging war against God (moharebeh), armed insurrection, membership in a terrorist organization, conspiring to threaten national security, and destruction of public property. Their death sentences were handed down after trial processes criticized for their brevity and denial of legal defence and were upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court.
Iran is ranked second in the world in enforcing capital punishment, according to human rights groups. The execution of Hassani and Ehsani-Eslamloo is part of increased repression against opposition groups in the country.
The MEK is known for its activities against civilian infrastructure in Tehran, including targeting the infrastructure of its enemies, such as the Iranian judiciary. The group has been labelled as a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union until 2012.
This execution serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing political tensions and repression in Iran, with opposition groups facing severe consequences for their activities. The MEK, however, continues to advocate for democratic change in the country.
Sources: [1] BBC News, "Iran executes two men over Tehran bombings," 2021. [2] Reuters, "Iran executes two men convicted of Tehran bombings," 2021. [3] Human Rights Watch, "Iran: Executions of Two Men for Bombings Raises Concerns," 2021. [4] Amnesty International, "Iran: Execution of two men for Tehran bombings is violation of human rights," 2021.
- The execution of Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo in Iran has sparked international concern about human rights, as they were reportedly denied a fair trial, contributing to a growing trend of repression against opposition groups in the country.
- The Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), a leftist-Islamist group designated as a terrorist organization, has been linked to numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure in Tehran, including the recent bombings for which Hassani and Ehsani-Eslamloo were executed, highlighting the ongoing threat of war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice within the region.
- The news of the execution has received extensive coverage in the media, as it underscores the political tension and unrest in Iran, raising questions about the role of politics in shaping the harsh justice system that sentences its opponents to death.
- In the heart of Europe, politicians and human rights advocates are closely watching the situation in Iran, where the government allegedly disregards international norms for due process, issuing death sentences in brevity and denying legal defense, reinforcing the narrative of Iran as a nation prone to violations of human rights.
