Iran Executions: Three Men Hanged in Public- IHR Warns About a New Wave of Execution in the Coming Weeks

November 21, 2018

Iran Human Rights; November 21, 2018: Three prisoners were hanged in public at Iranian city of Shiraz this morning. Several children were observed among the crowd watching the executions.

Iranian authorities have executed at least 15 people during the last 8 days. Iran Human Rights (IHR) warns against a new wave of executions in Iran and urges the UN, EU and countries with diplomatic relations with Iran to react immediately to stop these executions.

The IHR spokesperson and director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said: “We demand the halt of all executions, especially public executions which are inhumane and humiliating, and promote violence in society,” IHR spokesperson emphasized, “At the first anniversary of the nationwide protests in Iran, we are concerned that the Iranian authorities will use more executions and terror to avoid new protests. Adequate and prompt international reactions can stop these executions”.

According to Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), Siamak Eslaminia, Kourosh Gholizadeh and Foad Ghanemi were hanged in public at Payam square of Shiraz city.

All three were convicted to death on Moharebeh charge (waging war against God) for armed robbery. The first defendant was also accused of killing a policeman.

“Tens of children between 3 to 10 years old were among crowd along with their parents,” Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

UN human rights experts, including the former Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, had previously drawn particular attention to continued reports of public executions. “A dehumanizing effect on both the victim and those who witness the execution” and ultimately reinforced the “already cruel, inhuman and degrading nature of the death penalty,” UN experts said.