Campaign of “No to Executions Tuesdays”: 40 Executions Last Week in Iranian Prisons
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, in a statement dated December 17, announced that during the 47th week of hunger strikes by prisoners in 27 prisons across the country, at least 40 people had been executed in Iran over the past few days.
The imprisoned members of the campaign also expressed concern about the possible approval of death sentences for two political prisoners named Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh and Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh.
The statement, citing reports, adds that at least 40 people were executed in Iran last week, some of whom were hanged on drug-related charges. This comes while, following the collapse of Assad’s government in Syria, a factory linked to the Iranian regime was discovered, storing and distributing tens of tons of drugs to various parts of the world.
Activists in this campaign stress that executions for the possession of a few grams of drugs are being carried out, while large-scale drug trafficking continues with the involvement of regime-affiliated operatives.
The statement noted that Sistan and Baluchestan province, which has always faced severe pressure and deprivation, was among the regions with the highest number of executions this week, with at least 10 residents of the province executed.
The situation of political prisoners in Ghezel Hesar prison has also raised concerns. Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, who was sentenced to death on charges of “espionage” in a vague trial, has been transferred to this prison, and there is a possibility that his sentence will be approved and carried out.
On the other hand, Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, another political prisoner who has been imprisoned for 15 years, has been transferred to solitary confinement, raising fears about the execution of his sentence. Security forces told Saman’s parents that they could visit their son for the last time at Ghezel Hesar prison on Tuesday. Saman was also informed that he would be allowed one final phone call before his execution.
Saman was about 20 years old when he was arrested and is now 35. He has a son who was born just days after his arrest; now his son is the same age as the years his father has spent in prison.
The statement also reported that in continuation of protests against the death penalty, prisoners in Tabas prison in South Khorasan and Khurin prison in Varamin announced through letters that they would join the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign and hold hunger strikes every Tuesday. According to the statement’s authors, with this move, the number of participating prisons in the campaign has increased to 27.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign began last year with the goal of abolishing executions and ending state violence, initiated by several political prisoners and gradually expanded with the support of other prisoners.
Domestic Violence Against Women in Iran
Official statistics in Iran indicate that an average of over 74,000 women annually visit forensic medical centers for examinations related to spousal abuse. In other words, one in every 300 married women in Iran seeks assistance from forensic services to report domestic violence. However, not all cases are reported. Estimates suggest that the actual instances of domestic violence against women in Iran are approximately 100 times higher than this figure.
The latest statistics from the World Bank’s gender data section reveal that nearly one-third of women in Iran experience violence from their intimate partners. This rate is the third highest in the region after Afghanistan and Turkey.
Estimates from UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality, show that 133 women are victims of femicide every day worldwide, or at least five women per hour.
In Iran, official bodies do not publish accurate statistics on femicide. However, Iranian newspapers occasionally report based on available news. For example, in the summer, the newspaper Shargh analyzed news reports from the crime sections of newspapers and websites, revealing that between June 2021 and June 2023, at least 165 femicides occurred in Iran. In two-thirds of these cases, the perpetrators were husbands, and in one-fifth, they were fathers or brothers.
Sexual abuse and violence
According to estimates by UN Women, one in three women worldwide experiences sexual violence, most often inflicted by their spouse or intimate partner. In international datasets, there are no specific statistics for Iran on this indicator. Sparse studies on sexual assault and harassment in Iran emphasize that such cases are rarely reported. However, Iran’s profile on the UN Women website cites a 2018 study where 18% of women aged 15 to 49 reported experiencing sexual violence at least once in the 12 months preceding the survey.Forced marriage and childbearing
UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality, considers forced marriage and childbearing as forms of violence against women. The Iranian Statistical Center has stopped publishing birth statistics by maternal age since March 2023. However, available data indicate that between 2016 and 2022, an average of 1,438 births per year in Iran were recorded where the mother was under the age of 15. According to Iran’s Civil Code, marriage of girls under the age of 13 is permitted only with approval and discretion of a court. However, an analysis of the latest raw data from the regime’s Civil Registration Organization in 2020 reveals that 767 marriages involving girls under 13 years old were officially registered across Iran that year. Using the international standard of 18 years as the benchmark for child marriage, more than one-fifth of registered marriages in Iran qualify as “child marriages,” according to the latest statistics. This means that out of approximately 557,000 registered marriages in 2020, in 118,000 cases, the bride was under the age of 18.Increasing Poverty and High School Students Entering the Workforce in Iran
The state-run website Tejarat News published an article, which it removed shortly after without explanation, stating that escalating poverty in Iran has led a significant portion of high school students to join the labor market, often forcing them to drop out of school.
Tejarat News highlighted that “working students are another indicator of poverty in society,” adding that “many students cannot afford school supplies and educational materials.”
According to this report, another issue plaguing the education sector, particularly in public secondary schools, is the absence of students from their classes.
The report stressed that “most of these students are working.” It further explained that “they skip class hours to help cover their family’s living expenses.”
Fereshteh Mirzaee, an education expert, told the outlet, “This issue is not due to parents’ lack of interest but because living costs have risen so much that there is no room left in household budgets for education.”
Mirzaee attributed the neglect of educational equity and free schooling as the reason children’s education is being sacrificed to economic hardships and poverty.
Meanwhile, on December 13, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, quoted the Secretary-General of the House of Cooperatives saying, “There is a significant correlation between poverty and school dropouts.”
According to Iranian state media reports, the number of school dropouts in Iran is around one million, with 15 to 17-year-olds representing the largest group.
Experts and analysts believe that the trend of dropping out of school ultimately leads to greater social and economic inequality, reinforcing the cycle of poverty.
Economists argue that a low-educated, low-skilled workforce is an obstacle to economic growth and national development. Social activists also warn about the prevailing conditions in the country, believing that school dropouts exacerbate social problems such as rising crime, addiction, and social disorder.
In this context, on September 22, the newspaper Shargh wrote: “Education has lost its economic function. Twenty or even ten years ago, education was the best means of advancement and moving between social classes, but today, higher education no longer enables social mobility.”
The newspaper emphasized: “Students consider dropping out and entering the workforce a win for themselves, while attending classes and studying is seen as a loss.”
Iran’s Weapons Route Obliterated, Hezbollah Leader Admits
Naim Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah, stated that the group has lost its primary supply route for weapons from the Iranian regime, which passed through Syria.
This is the first time the Hezbollah leader publicly acknowledged that the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria has impacted the group’s ability to procure weapons following heavy Israeli attacks.
Under Assad’s rule, Syria was Iran’s most significant state ally in a regional coalition, which included political groups and militias like Hezbollah. It also served as the primary geographical link for transferring weapons and equipment from Iran to Lebanon.
Assad’s overthrow has jeopardized Syria’s relationship with the Iranian regime and raised questions about its future ties with Hezbollah, which fought alongside Assad against the rebels.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Qassem, in his first public statement after Assad’s fall, said, “Yes, Hezbollah has lost its military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this is just a minor issue within the broader resistance.”
He added, “This supply route may return to normal with the new government, and there are always other ways. The resistance is flexible and can adapt.”
Hezbollah, regarded as the most powerful militia backed by the Iranian regime, suffered significant losses after joining Hamas’s conflict with Israel, including the death of its former secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli targeted bombing.
These clashes intensified in the autumn and ended with a ceasefire agreement in late November. Israel targeted weapon smuggling infrastructure in Lebanon and Syria, including border crossings, smuggling convoys, and weapons production facilities, to disrupt Hezbollah’s supply chain.
Moreover, Assad’s fall threatened the Iranian regime’s influence in Syria, especially after Hezbollah forces and Iranian military personnel withdrew from Syria when their inability to sustain Assad’s power against rebel attacks became evident.
Schools in Many Provinces of Iran Closed Due to Cold Weather, Gas Shortages
With a drop in temperatures across various regions of Iran, officials in 15 provinces announced the closure of schools to “manage energy consumption.”
Schools in the provinces of West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Tehran, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, Zanjan, Semnan, Qazvin, Qom, Kermanshah, Golestan, and Mazandaran were declared closed and shifted to remote learning for Sunday, December 15.
In Khuzestan Province, schools were also closed due to air pollution and a red alert for dust storms.
Government offices and institutions in most of these provinces were also declared closed, with only Semnan and Golestan provinces starting operations with a two-hour delay.
Provincial authorities cited “the arrival of a precipitation system and a cold front in the country, along with the need to manage energy consumption” as the reasons for these closures.
A few days ago, Saeed Tavakoli, CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company, stated that gas reserves are at their lowest levels this year and warned that gas shortages would worsen in the coming days as temperatures drop further.
Meanwhile, Iranian regime President Massoud Pezeshkian urged people to “lower their home heating by at least two degrees” as winter approaches, so his government could conserve more fuel and distribute it more effectively.
Gas shortages have become a serious challenge in Iran in recent years, and it was recently announced that a mazut (heavy fuel oil) shortage has also compounded the problem.
A few days ago, Mohsen Zabihi, Deputy Coordinator for Distribution at Iran’s Power Generation and Distribution Company (TAVANIR), attributed power outages in various regions to “insufficient fuel deliveries to power plants.”
Widespread blackouts have returned to Iranian cities despite the Ministry of Energy announcing less than three weeks ago that “blackouts have ended” and the fuel crisis at power plants had been resolved.
Power outages have caused various issues, including water disruptions in residential buildings. A few days ago, the Ministry of Communications also announced that internet disruptions were due to power cuts.
On the other hand, many social media users have criticized mismanagement in the unscheduled and unannounced power cuts, as well as delays in announcing school closures.
Over the past ten days, air quality indices in Tehran have consistently been recorded as unhealthy or unhealthy for all.
Gas Shortage Crisis in Iran Despite Being the Holder of the World’s Second-Largest Natural Gas Reserves
Iran, with the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves, is recognized as one of the largest potential producers and exporters of this energy resource.
Eleven Baluch, Kurdish, and one female prisoner executed in Iran
Despite repeated warnings from human rights activists, on Sunday, December 15, the death sentences of 11 prisoners, including nine Baluch, one Kurdish, and one woman, were carried out in central prisons of Yazd and Zahedan. These individuals had previously been convicted of charges such as drug-related crimes and murder.
According to the Haalvsh website, five Baluch prisoners, one Kurdish prisoner, and one woman were executed in Yazd prison.
These individuals, many of whom had several children, had been arrested years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.
Local sources reported that Reza Kharkouhi, one of the executed individuals, suffered physical disability due to medical negligence in prison and had been using a wheelchair in the final years of his life.
Four Baluch prisoners were also executed in Zahedan prison. They had been arrested on drug-related charges as well.
Sources indicated that the families of the prisoners had their last meetings with them the day before the executions.
According to the report, the Baluch community, which comprises only 5-6% of Iran’s population, consistently ranks highest in the country’s execution statistics.
Many of these individuals belong to the impoverished and marginalized segments of society, burdened with the responsibility of supporting large families due to economic hardships.
Most of these executions are carried out for drug-related charges, despite repeated calls from international organizations and human rights experts to reform punitive policies and abolish the death penalty for such crimes.
Notably, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of the Iranian regime is one of the largest drug cartels in the region. Recently, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, warehouses and workshops producing Captagon pills were discovered in Syrian military compounds. The Iranian regime and the IRGC were major supporters of Bashar al-Assad.
Political Prisoner Transferred for Execution Amid Rising Executions in Iran
Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, a political prisoner sentenced to death, was recently transferred from Evin Prison to a solitary confinement cell in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj for the execution of his sentence.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization, on December 13, announced the transfer of Mahdavi Shayesteh to solitary confinement. They reported that he was tried by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, and sentenced to death on charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “collaborating with the enemy.”
This human rights organization emphasized that the case against this political prisoner is so lacking in evidence that a “single empty pistol magazine” and “a pepper spray” were used as proof of “collaborating with the enemy” to substantiate the charges.
In recent months, the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners in Iran has increased.
Since the beginning of the nationwide uprising against the Iranian regime in September 2022, the government’s suppression of civil, political, and protest activists has intensified and continues to this day.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization stated in its report that Mahdavi Shayesteh, after his arrest in the fall of 2023, confessed to collaborating with Israel under pressure and torture by Iranian regime security forces during interrogations.
According to this report, these confessions formed the basis for many charges against him, including “insulting Islamic sanctities,” in his indictment.
The human rights organization stressed that the “charge of collaborating with Israel was used to issue a hasty death sentence” based on confessions obtained under torture.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization described the regime’s determination to execute Mahdavi Shayesteh as “a political decision related to recent tensions with Israel” and called on the international community to take timely action to prevent his execution.
The Iranian regime is experiencing the greatest crises in its history and resorts to intimidating its populace by executing defenseless prisoners to prevent public protests and cover up its regional failures. The global community must strive to prevent the execution of prisoners in Iran.
In recent weeks, the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners and the increased execution rate in Iran have sparked widespread protests both domestically and internationally. Over the past two months, the Iranian regime has executed more than 300 individuals.
Also Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, a Kurdish political prisoner from Sanandaj, who had previously been sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) through “membership in opposition groups,” has been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj for the implementation of his death sentence. His family has been summoned for a final visit.
Cyberattacks by the Iranian Regime on Critical Infrastructure in the U.S. and Israel
Reports indicate that cyber groups affiliated with the Iranian regime have used the IOCONTROL malware to attack critical water and fuel systems in the U.S. and Israel.
This malware, designed to infiltrate internet-connected devices, can control systems such as fuel pumps, routers, and security cameras.
The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses devices connected to the internet that send and receive data, such as cameras, sensors, and household appliances.
This technology is widely used across industries but can cause widespread disruptions in essential services if infiltrated by malware.
According to a report by the cybersecurity firm Claroty, this malware was discovered in a fuel management system targeted by a group linked to the IRGC. The attackers managed to disrupt fuel services and steal customers’ credit card information.
These attacks are part of the Iranian regime’s broader cyber activities targeting critical infrastructure in various countries over the past years.
Such activities include the 2012 cyberattack on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil company and attacks on water and power systems in the Middle East and Europe aimed at disrupting public services.
On December 2, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, announced it had identified more than 200 Iranian regime phishing cyberattacks aimed at obtaining personal information from senior Israeli officials.
According to Shin Bet, senior security, political, academic, and media figures in Israel were among the victims of these cyberattacks.
Shin Bet revealed that the hackers crafted personalized messages to avoid arousing suspicion among their targets. In one instance, a hacker posed as a cabinet minister and told the victim they were arranging a meeting between them and the Israeli prime minister.
Shin Bet stated that it had identified the victims of this cyber campaign and notified them accordingly.
Power outages in Iran have disrupted people’s lives
On Friday, December 13, the Associated Press reported that the frequent power outages in Iran in recent months have “disrupted people’s lives and businesses.”
The news agency stated that while multiple factors, such as mismanagement, reduced energy reserves, ongoing droughts, budget deficits, and sanctions stemming from the Iranian regime’s nuclear activities, likely contribute to the power outages, some suspect that cryptocurrency mining is also playing a role.
The rise in Bitcoin prices has led some to suspect, as reported by the Associated Press, that organized cryptocurrency mining, which consumes significant amounts of electricity, has contributed to the recent outages in Iran.
The report cited comments made earlier this summer by Mostafa Rajabi, CEO of Iran’s state-owned electricity company, who said: “Unfortunately, some opportunistic and exploitative individuals are using subsidized electricity, public networks, and other unauthorized resources to mine cryptocurrencies.”
The Associated Press also quoted Masih Alavi, CEO of a government-licensed mining company called “Vira Miner,” who stated that determining energy consumption by miners is challenging, especially since they use virtual private networks (VPNs) that hide their locations.
The report noted that approximately three years ago, an estimate suggested that Iran had processed “$1 billion in Bitcoin transactions.” It added that with the increase in Bitcoin prices, this value has likely risen, coinciding with the power outages in Iran.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Treasury Department and Israel claim that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) relies on cryptocurrencies to finance the regime’s proxy militant groups in the Middle East. Therefore, the IRGC may be involved in cryptocurrency mining farm activities.
Earlier, in May 2024, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King wrote to senior officials in the Biden administration, urging a deeper investigation into the Iranian regime’s cryptocurrency activities. They expressed concerns that the regime may be using cryptocurrencies for money laundering, financing terrorism, and evading sanctions.
U.S. Senate Bipartisan Gathering Highlights Support for Iranian People’s Freedom Movement
On Wednesday, December 11, a gathering was held in the United States Senate discussing Iran. During this bipartisan gathering, Senate members expressed their support for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom.
In addition to Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), notable speakers included Senators Ted Cruz, Thom Tillis, Jeanne Shaheen, and Cory Booker.
Mrs. Rajavi stated:
“I have consistently emphasized that our goal is not to seize power but to restore it to its rightful owners, the people of Iran and their vote.
“Our resistance has a practical roadmap for regime change and establishing a free and democratic society. The people, who are deeply discontented and angry, along with the Resistance Units, who are part of the Army of Freedom and the main force for change in Iran. They are preparing an organized uprising.”
Referring to recent developments, including the “fall of Syria’s dictatorship,” Mrs. Rajavi described it as a “strategic blow to the clerical regime” and its primary proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Several Republican and Democratic senators attended the meeting, emphasizing their support for the Iranian people’s pursuit of freedom and democracy while advocating for intensified actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Senator Ted Cruz underscored that the Iranian people would achieve democracy and free elections. Addressing the implications of Donald Trump’s presidency for Iran’s regime, he remarked that “no one had a worse day on election day than [Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei.”
The U.S. senator added, that if history has taught us anything, it is that dictators understand only the language of power.
Senator Cruz reiterated that with Donald Trump’s administration, the policy of maximum pressure would return. He asserted that Khamenei is trembling with fear because every aspect of this brutal and oppressive regime is being shut down from every angle.
Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democratic Senator, stated in her speech that the Iranian regime has suffered a significant blow, and developments in Syria reveal its fundamental weaknesses in regional strategy and policies.
She stressed the need to work on shared values such as democracy, human rights, and justice. She said that the Iranian people have paid the price for these values for years and the world needs to find ways to support the Iranian people’s rights to choose their future government.
Thom Tillis, a Republican Senator and member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, shared that he has been following Iran’s situation since 1978. He remarked that the leaders of this regime and the mullahs have destroyed the wealth and heritage of a rich nation, but perhaps one day, the people will celebrate democracy’s triumph in Tehran.
Senator Tillis emphasized that the mullahs’ regime must not be appeased and instead there needs to be an increase in the pressure and create opportunities for a democratic and peaceful Syria and Iran. He asserted that the American people stand with those who desire a free, modern, secure, and proud Iran.
Another speaker at the gathering, Democratic Senator Cory Booker, stated, the suffering of the Iranian people stems from an unjust regime that imposes horrific violence on its citizens, violates human and civil rights, tortures, and abducts people.
He described the Iranian regime as the primary exporter of international terrorism and violence, emphasizing that American ideals align with the aspirations of the Iranian people.
The event also featured speeches from General James Jones, former U.S. National Security Advisor (2010) and former NATO Commander; General Keith Kellogg, National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence (2021); General Tod Wolters, NATO Commander (2019–2022); Ambassador Sam Brownback, U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom (2021) and former Kansas Governor and Senator; Ambassador Mohammed Abdullah al-Hadhrami, Yemen’s Ambassador to the U.S. and former Foreign Minister of Yemen (2020); and Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco.
