Iran: Political Prisoner Mohammad Ghobadlou Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison

On the morning of Tuesday, January 23, the official media outlet of the Iranian regime’s judiciary announced the execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou, a 23-year-old political prisoner and participant in the nationwide protests of 2022.

Despite protests from his defense lawyers and human rights activists, the execution was carried out.

According to the Mizan News Agency, the criminal court’s verdict of capital punishment against Mohammad Ghobadlou for the killing of a State Security officer was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the country and subsequently executed. The execution took place despite objections from Amir Raeisian, Ghobadlou’s defense lawyer, who deemed it “unlawful.”

Amir Raeisian had emphasized that Mohammad Ghobadlou was entitled to a fair retrial at this stage, and therefore, the execution of the death sentence “has no legal authorization and is undoubtedly considered murder.”

The regime’s judiciary had informed Ghobadlou’s lawyer just one day before the execution that the verdict had been referred to the enforcement department and was scheduled to be carried out on Tuesday.

On Monday, January 22, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, issued a message on X network:

I earnestly urge all my fellow citizens, especially the youth in Tehran and Alborz, to protest against the unjust verdict condemning imprisoned protester, #MohammadGhobadlou, and Sunni political prisoner Farhad Salimi to execution. Both have been transferred to solitary cells, placing them at imminent risk of execution.

Mohammad Ghobadlou faced accusations of fatally striking a police officer with his car during the 2022 protests in Iran. Despite his consistent denial and the presentation of evidence supporting his innocence, he was implicated in the incident.

Following the news of a potential execution for Mohammad Ghobadlou, his family and numerous concerned citizens gathered in front of Ghezel Hesar prison on Monday night. Their hope was to at least delay the execution, which typically occurs with the morning call to prayer just before sunrise.

Shortly after sunrise, Mizan News, the regime’s Judiciary outlet, announced the execution of Ghobadlou. A brief video clip circulated on X, depicting Ghobadlou’s mother at the prison gate, passionately shouting at the guards, expressing, “You have taken the life of my beloved Mohammad, who had taken to the streets on behalf of all the young people.”