On Tuesday, April 7, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the Iranian regime’s judiciary, called for accelerating and increasing death sentences. The regime judiciary chief emphasized speeding up rulings against what he called “enemy elements and agents,” while reports indicate a sharp increase in pressure on political prisoners and the implementation of death sentences in recent days.
Mohseni Ejei called for accelerating and increasing death sentences. In a meeting with members of the judiciary’s high council, he called for the maximum use of laws, including the law intensifying punishment for espionage, to speed up the issuance of rulings. He also stressed the rapid implementation of punishments such as asset confiscation and executions in cases where the law permits and called for these rulings to be publicized in the media.
These remarks come as, over the past few days, at least 10 political prisoners have been executed, 6 of whom were members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). There have also been reports that dozens of other prisoners are awaiting execution.
Ejei’s emphasis on accelerating the issuance and implementation of heavy sentences and executions comes as concerns over fair trial procedures and judicial transparency have increased.
In another part of his remarks, Mohseni Ejei described the country’s conditions as an all-out war and stressed the need for decisive confrontation with opponents, as well as intensified market monitoring and action against what he called disruptors. He also claimed that despite these conditions, the daily lives of the people have not been disrupted.
At the same time, the coincidence of these remarks with the recent wave of executions and reports of increasing heavy sentences has further heightened concerns about the intensification of security and judicial approaches in the country.
