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The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on the Daily Lives of People in Iran

Sia Rajabi
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The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on the Daily Lives of People in Iran

Since the start of military conflict on February 28, 2026, Iranian society has faced a horrifying reality: a two-front war, one from the sky with missiles and the other from within through the deprivation of communication rights, both targeting daily life. The internet shutdown, imposed from the first hours of the attack, has now entered its second month and set an unprecedented record for the isolation of an entire nation. While people under bombardment search for shelter and physical safety, the complete blockage of online space has severed their economic and informational lifelines, pushing millions of households to the brink of livelihood collapse.

The paralysis of household economies and the destruction of jobs under the shadow of the internet shutdown

The biggest blow from this decision has fallen on the lives of people who in recent years had moved all their energy and capital into digital space. With the continuation of the shutdown, startups that were once symbols of modernity and job creation have now turned into digital ruins. From small Instagram-based shops to major service and transportation platforms, all are in complete shutdown. The mass unemployment resulting from this situation, at a time when the prices of essential goods have sharply risen because of the war, means absolute hunger for the most vulnerable sectors of society.

Iran Loses 1.56 million Dollars Every Hour Due To Internet Shutdowns

When the internet is cut, it is not merely a communication tool that is lost; the infrastructure for distributing goods and services also collapses. In war-affected cities, people depend on online tools even to find medicine, food, or information about safe areas.

Digital repression: a weapon against public awareness and a tool for monopolizing the narrative

Reports by international organizations such as NetBlocks show that Iran has been in total darkness for more than 35 days. This internet shutdown is clearly far beyond a temporary defensive measure. By creating this information vacuum, the Iranian regime prevents the publication of news related to the real damage of war and the harm inflicted on infrastructure and ordinary people. In effect, digital repression has become a complement to physical repression. While access to the global network is blocked for the public, the regime has admitted that it has preserved digital privilege for aligned forces and its propaganda media so that official propaganda remains the only voice heard in the country.

The shutdown has prevented free media outlets and independent users from publishing real accounts of shelter conditions, hospital shortages, and other urgent realities. This deliberate blackout has opened the way for the spread of fake and manipulated news, allowing the regime to use the shock of war to consolidate its power and silence any dissenting voice.

The continuation of communicative deadlock and the legacy of the darkest era of civil liberties

A comparison of statistics from 2025 and the opening months of 2026 shows that Iran has entered a new era of blockage. Last year, repeated records of digital blackouts were registered at different times, but the current shutdown, taking place simultaneously with an external war, is unparalleled in world history in both duration and severity. Based on available data, Iranian users have spent more than half of the first quarter of this year in complete disconnection. This means living in a country where the right to access information has been systematically destroyed.

The social consequences of this situation are no less severe than its economic damage. The severing of contact with the outside world has created an intense sense of isolation among the younger generation and the educated elite. While across the world the internet serves as a tool for relief efforts and organization in times of crisis, in Iran it has been turned into an instrument for paralyzing civil society.

A catastrophe greater than missiles

The internet shutdown in Iran is a catastrophe whose scale is no less devastating than missile explosions. This action not only fails to provide national security, but by destroying the digital economy and household livelihoods, it has endangered human security itself. People who today are deprived of the right to work, the right to know, and the right to communicate are victims of a regime that would rather drag the country back to the Stone Age than allow truth to cross digital borders. The repeated use of this pattern shows that internet shutdowns are no longer an exception, but the rule.

Day 34 of Iran War: Continued Attacks, Rising Oil Prices, and Expanding Regional Conflict

Esmaeil Mohades
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Day 34 of Iran War: Continued Attacks, Rising Oil Prices, and Expanding Regional Conflict

The 34th day of the war began with military attacks by the warring sides still ongoing, while the economic and security consequences of the conflict continue to expand across the region and the world. Reports indicate continued strikes on infrastructure, rising oil prices, and escalating tensions in the region.

On the 34th day of the war, military attacks continued in various locations. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American military strikes against the Iranian regime will continue without interruption and will persist until the stated objectives are achieved.

Infiltration Inside Iran’s Regime: Where is IRGC Being Struck From?

According to him, military pressure will continue and the operations will not stop. These remarks indicate that the war has entered a phase in which there is still no clear prospect for an end, and the fighting is expected to continue.

Which areas were targeted?

Reports indicate that various targets were hit in the continuing attacks. In Mashhad, in the area behind the airport, consecutive explosions occurred, followed by reports of a large fire. According to reports, these strikes likely targeted fuel storage facilities.

Yesterday, reports also emerged that the home of Kamal Kharrazi, a former foreign minister of Iran’s regime, was targeted in Tehran. According to those reports, his wife was killed in the strike and he himself was wounded.

This afternoon, the Pasteur Institute in central Tehran was bombed. In another development, drone and missile attacks were also reported against the headquarters of Komala of Iranian Kurdistan in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. These attacks occurred amid increasing military pressure on locations where opposition groups are based.

As the war continues, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has issued a security alert and urged American citizens to leave Iraq. The warning stated that attacks in Baghdad are possible within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The alert referred to attacks against U.S.-linked targets in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and warned of expanding insecurity in the area. These warnings suggest that the scope of the war is spreading to other regions as well, raising the likelihood of further clashes.

The killing of an IRGC commander

In the latest wartime developments, reports have emerged of the killing of Mohammad Ali Fathalizadeh, one of the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of the Fatehin special unit. According to reports, he was killed on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The Fatehin special unit is one of the forces involved in security operations and the suppression of protests, and the killing of one of its commanders is considered a significant development in the course of the war.

The economic consequences of the war and rising oil prices

As the war continues, global energy markets have also been affected by the conflict. Following Trump’s remarks about continuing the strikes, oil prices in global markets rose by more than 4%, surpassing $100 per barrel.

Energy market experts have warned that the continuation of the war, especially in sensitive oil-producing regions, could disrupt oil supplies and drive prices even higher. According to analysts, the continuation of this situation could intensify the global energy crisis and bring broad economic consequences.

Iran’s Regime Executes 18-Year-Old Amirhossein Hatami After a Rushed Trial Shrouded in Ambiguity

Hoshang Amiri
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Iran’s Regime Executes 18-Year-Old Amirhossein Hatami After a Rushed Trial Shrouded in Ambiguity

According to Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s news agency, Amirhossein Hatami, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, was executed in the early hours of Thursday, April 2. The execution was carried out after he had been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison, when several other political prisoners had already been executed before him.

In the early hours of Tuesday, March 31, Amirhossein Hatami, along with several other political prisoners, was transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison. Mohammd Amin Biglari, Shahin Vahedparast, Abolfazl Salehi Siavoshani, and Ali Fahim were among the prisoners transferred to solitary at the same time as Hatami.

Global Reactions to Execution of Four PMOI Members in Iran

This transfer came after the execution of four political prisoners—Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghabadi, Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi—and heightened concerns over the possible execution of other prisoners. Ultimately, in the early hours of Thursday, April 2, Amirhossein Hatami’s death sentence was carried out.

Case documents and coerced confessions

Transfer of five political prisoners to solitary in Ghezel Hesar; risk of executions amid war and ongoing repression

Reports indicate that the documents cited in Amirhossein Hatami’s case were fraught with serious ambiguities, and parts of the case file were compiled based on confessions obtained under pressure during interrogation. According to informed sources, the confessions were taken while the defendant was under duress, raising doubts about their credibility. Based on these reports, the documents presented in court were also flawed, and some of the case evidence had been challenged.

This rebellious young protester, while accusing the regime’s leaders of killing protesters in court, had said, “I attacked the Basij base to obtain weapons so I could fight you.”

Judicial process and issuance of the sentence

According to published information, the handling of Amirhossein Hatami’s case proceeded very quickly, with only a short interval between the different judicial stages. Some reports have described the process as rushed and outside the normal course of legal proceedings.

The execution of Amirhossein Hatami was carried out while the country was in a state of war and under bombardment. Several other political prisoners had previously been executed in the same prison.

Diana Al-Tahawi, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, had stated in response to the recent executions that the authorities must immediately halt any plans to execute prisoners. She mentioned several prisoners by name, including Amirhossein Hatami, and had warned that they were at risk of execution.

The statement emphasized that the continuation of executions while people are caught in war and bombardment shows that the death penalty is still being used as a tool to deal with opponents.

The overlap of war and the implementation of death sentences has led some observers to view the situation as a sign of continued internal repression under wartime conditions.

Infiltration Inside Iran’s Regime: Where is IRGC Being Struck From?

Mehdi Hosseini
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Infiltration Inside Iran’s Regime: Where is IRGC Being Struck From?

In recent months, the issue of “infiltration inside the IRGC” has become one of the most controversial subjects in Iran’s political and social landscape. Numerous reports of commanders being targeted and sensitive information being exposed have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the regime’s security structures. At the same time, official narratives seek to attribute these incidents to foreign actors, but public opinion is following a different narrative.

IRGC commanders or commanders of infiltration inside the IRGC

In recent weeks, state-run media have repeatedly reported the arrest of infiltrators. These reports have often been published without providing precise details. In contrast, citizens on social media emphasize that infiltration inside the IRGC cannot merely be the result of foreign operations. Many believe that this level of access to sensitive information would not be possible without internal cooperation or internal weakness.

Iran War Crisis and Rising Oil Prices; Release of Strategic Emergency Oil Reserves

According to published data, some of this information included the travel routes or residences of important political and military figures. Such information is usually kept within highly restricted security layers. This has further strengthened the theory of infiltration from within the IRGC itself. Some media outlets have also pointed to deep fractures within the intelligence structure. For example, the state-run Tabnak website wrote in an article dated June 28, 2025: “New details of the assassination of IRGC commanders: Mossad contacted 100 commanders … how is it possible that Mossad has penetrated into the deepest levels of our country’s most important and most protected institutions?”

According to Euronews on August 21, 2025, Mohammad Sarafraz, the former head of Iran’s regime state broadcaster IRIB, described the 12-day Iran-Israel war as primarily an intelligence war and said Mossad was directing it. He stated that in the very first hours, the biggest blows came from inside the country, not from aircraft taking off from Israel and striking targets there. He said forces had been trained inside the country, were commando units, and were already present, and they used drones and missiles already inside the country to assassinate IRGC leaders and destroy all of the country’s radar systems.

Expansion of arrests under the pretext of foreign agents as a cover for infiltration

On the other hand, reports have emerged about the increasing detention of citizens accused of cooperating with the enemy. Security bodies are trying to present these arrests as a response to infiltration. However, these actions appear largely theatrical. Many believe that focusing on ordinary individuals is an attempt to conceal the real source of infiltration inside the IRGC.

It is natural that in an organization suffering from widespread corruption, numerous fractures exist. Such conditions can provide fertile ground for the expansion of infiltration inside the IRGC. There have also been reports of financial and ethical corruption, as well as internal factional rivalries, all of which further intensify this situation.

Public opinion has also reacted sharply to these developments. In online spaces, users using harsh language describe the IRGC as the principal cause of this crisis. They believe that infiltration inside the IRGC is the direct result of a structure built on political loyalty rather than professional competence. This perception has deepened the divide between society and the ruling institutions.

Alongside these issues, some reports also point to the role of the Ministry of Intelligence. It is said that the lack of coordination between this body and the IRGC has created security gaps. According to observers, these gaps have paved the way for infiltration inside the IRGC.

Infiltration inside the IRGC: the official narrative and the people’s narrative

The official narrative continues to emphasize the role of foreign actors. State-run media attempt to show control of the situation by publishing news of arrests. But the people’s narrative is different. Many believe that the roots of infiltration inside the IRGC lie within the institution itself. This conflict of narratives has led to growing public distrust.

Day 33 of Iran War: War Will End Within Three Weeks, US President Says

Jubin Katiraie
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Day 33 of Iran War: War Will End Within Three Weeks, US President Says

On the 33rd day of the war, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States could bring the military conflict with Iran to an end within a short time frame of two to three weeks. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in the Oval Office at the White House, he said that America would soon exit this conflict and that this could happen within the next two or at most three weeks.

Trump went on to emphasize that the end of U.S. military operations is not necessarily contingent on reaching a diplomatic agreement with Tehran. In response to a question about the need for negotiations to reduce tensions, he said that Iran is not obliged to reach an agreement with Washington, and the United States has likewise not tied its withdrawal to such an agreement.

Day 32 Of Iran War: Continued Large-Scale Attacks on Iranian Cities and Uncertainty in Negotiations

However, he said the main condition for ending the conflict is the serious weakening of Iran’s strategic capabilities. According to him, the goal of the United States is for the Iranian regime to be reduced to a level of weakness where it is no longer capable of rapidly acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump stated that once this objective is achieved, American forces will leave the region.

The U.S. president also said in an interview with NBC News that, in his view, the war is coming to an end. Referring to the military performance of the United States, he claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely damaged and added that the people America is now dealing with in Iran are behaving more rationally than before. He once again stressed that Washington will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

At the same time, the results of a joint Reuters/Ipsos poll show that a significant majority of American public opinion wants this war to end quickly. According to the survey, 66% of American citizens believe the United States should end the conflict with Iran as soon as possible, even without fully achieving its objectives. In addition, 60% of respondents oppose the continuation of military strikes, and many have expressed concern about the economic consequences of the war, including rising living costs and higher fuel prices.

Iran’s Regime Confirms Death Sentence for Another Political Prisoner

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime Confirms Death Sentence for Another Political Prisoner

The death sentence of Mansour Jamali, a political prisoner held in Choobindar Prison in Qazvin, has been upheld on the charge of “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),” and he now faces imminent execution. The confirmation of this sentence comes as four other political prisoners were executed over the past two days on the same charge, showing that the cycle of executions and repression continues even under conditions of war and bombardment.

Who is Mansour Jamali and why has he been sentenced to death?

Mansour Jamali, born in 1970 and originally from Urmia, was arrested in October 2023 by security forces in Buin Zahra County in Qazvin Province. During his arrest, several of his relatives were also detained; they were later released on bail, but he himself has remained in custody.

Mansour Jamali’s death sentence had previously been issued by Branch One of the Qazvin Revolutionary Court, presided over by Esmail Asadi. The charge against him was listed as “enmity against God through membership in the PMOI/MEK,” and with the sentence now confirmed, he faces possible execution.

Delayed notification of charges and ambiguity in the legal process

According to published reports, the charge of “enmity against God” was formally communicated to Mansour Jamali about 15 months after his initial arrest. The accusation was brought against him by an investigator identified as “Hokmi” from Branch 6 of the Qazvin Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Torture, pressure for confession, and denial of legal counsel

According to the available information, after his arrest Mansour Jamali spent a period in a security detention center under interrogation, during which he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure to extract a confession. After this phase, he was transferred to Choobindar Prison in Qazvin.

Reports indicate that he has so far been denied the right to access a lawyer. Mansour Jamali is currently being held in Ward 17 of Choobindar Prison in Qazvin. Denial of legal counsel and pressure to obtain a confession are among the major concerns raised regarding his case.

Execution of four political prisoners over the past two days

The confirmation of Mansour Jamali’s death sentence comes as the executions of four political prisoners — Akbar Daneshvarkar, Mohammad Taghavi, Pouya Ghobadi, and Babak Alipour — were carried out over the past two days. The implementation of these executions in such a short span has heightened concerns about a broader increase in the execution of political prisoners.

Global Reactions to Execution of Four PMOI Members in Iran

Continuation of repression even during war and bombardment

The continuation of executions under wartime conditions points to an intensification of internal repression. While governments in wartime usually focus on external threats, the continued execution of political prisoners shows that the crackdown on dissidents remains ongoing and has not stopped.

According to reports, this trend shows that the Iranian regime fears the spread of protests and domestic unrest above all else, and for this reason it has not halted the process of executions and repression even during war and bombardment.

The coincidence of war, bombardment, and the implementation of death sentences has created conditions in which concerns about the situation of political prisoners have grown more intense than ever. Reports indicate that the issuance and implementation of severe sentences are continuing unabated.

Global Reactions to Execution of Four PMOI Members in Iran

Mehdi Hosseini
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Global Reactions to Execution of Four PMOI Members in Iran

Following the execution of four political prisoners affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), a broad wave of international reactions and condemnations has emerged, all warning against this action.

On Monday, March 30, Mohammad Taghavi and Akbar Daneshvarkar were executed, followed on the morning of Tuesday, March 31, by two other political prisoners, Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi. The event has intensified concerns about the escalation of repression in Iran.

Lawyer of Executed PMOI Members Was Unaware of Execution

At the same time, political figures and human rights organizations, pointing to the risk facing other political prisoners, have called for urgent action by the international community to stop this trend.

Reuters reported that two prisoners were executed on Tuesday on charges of ties to the PMOI/MEK, noting that two similar executions had also taken place on Monday.

The Associated Press, referring to the executions of Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, emphasized that according to Amnesty International, they had been convicted of armed rebellion in October 2024 after an unfair trial conducted under pressure and torture.

The Washington Post also covered the news and referred to Amnesty International’s previous efforts to prevent the implementation of these sentences.

The Friends of a Free Iran group in the European Parliament announced that it had previously launched a campaign to save the lives of Mohammad Taghavi and Akbar Daneshvarkar.

The Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre organization also stated that these individuals were executed on charges of membership in the PMOI/MEK and attempting to change the ruling system, warning that other prisoners remain at risk.

Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, also referred to the executions and said that she and other UN experts had previously called for these sentences to be halted. She stressed that the executions were accompanied by serious violations of fair trial standards and, in some cases, were carried out even during a complete internet shutdown.

Meanwhile, regional media outlets also covered the issue. The London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi linked the executions to allegations of planning armed operations, while the National Council of Resistance of Iran described them as a brutal act aimed at suppressing domestic resistance. Raialyoum newspaper also reported that the sentences were carried out because of membership in the PMOI/MEK and efforts to overthrow the government.

Day 32 Of Iran War: Continued Large-Scale Attacks on Iranian Cities and Uncertainty in Negotiations

Jubin Katiraie
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Day 32 Of Iran War: Continued Large-Scale Attacks on Iranian Cities and Uncertainty in Negotiations

On Tuesday, March 31, as the war between the Iranian regime, the United States, and Israel reached its 32nd day, reports indicated the continuation of heavy bombardments in Tehran, Isfahan, and other Iranian cities. At the same time, reports suggest that the current negotiations between the United States and the Iranian regime are facing uncertainty because the position and authority of the negotiating figures remain unclear.

Amnesty International: possible war crime in the Iranian regime’s missile attack on Israel

In a new report, Amnesty International stated that the Iranian regime’s missile attack on the city of Beit Shemesh in Israel, which led to the killing of 9 civilians including four teenagers, should be investigated as a war crime.

Day 31 Of Iran War: Trump: If the Strait of Hormuz Is Not Reopened, Power Plants and Kharg Will Be Bombed

The attack took place on March 30, during which a synagogue and an underground shelter were destroyed. At least 46 people were also injured.

According to the report, no indication of a legitimate military target was found near the impact site, and the nearest military target was approximately 3.5 kilometers away.

The New York Times: the Iranian regime’s inability to make decisions is intensifying U.S. pressure

The New York Times reported, citing American and Western officials, that Donald Trump’s recent threats against the Iranian regime’s infrastructure reflect the inability of the regime’s leaders to make coordinated decisions regarding U.S. peace proposals.

According to the report, the recent war has led to the deaths of dozens of senior officials and has severely weakened the Iranian regime’s decision-making structure. Disruptions in communication between military and political institutions have also caused serious problems for operational coordination.

Western officials emphasized that hardliners within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have gained greater influence, and in many cases decisions are being made in a fragmented and uncoordinated manner.

This situation has reduced the Iranian regime’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks or to enter negotiations effectively.

Large-scale U.S. and Israeli attacks on military targets in Isfahan

As clashes continued, the United States and Israel targeted several cities in Isfahan Province on Monday night and early Tuesday morning, including Isfahan, Najafabad, Mobarakeh, Kashan, and Shahreza, in a series of airstrikes.

According to reports, powerful explosions occurred around Isfahan. A U.S. official stated that in these attacks, a large ammunition depot was struck using 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.

Chinese ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid restrictions

While the Iranian regime has restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, maritime data shows that two large container ships belonging to a Chinese company have successfully passed through this strategic waterway.

The two ships passed near Larak Island within a short interval and entered the Gulf of Oman.

CNN: U.S. doubts the authority of the Iranian regime’s negotiators

CNN reported that U.S. officials doubt whether the Iranian regime’s negotiators have sufficient authority to reach an agreement.

According to informed sources, due to the weakening of the ruling structure and the killing of several key figures, it is unclear who makes the final decision in Tehran.

At present, indirect contacts are underway between the United States and several officials, including Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of the Iranian regime, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the regime’s Majlis (parliament).

However, ambiguity in the power structure has complicated the negotiations, and even selecting credible representatives for dialogue has become challenging.

Araghchi’s position on Saudi Arabia amid the tensions

In a message, Abbas Araghchi described Saudi Arabia as a brotherly country and called for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region.

This comes as, alongside the escalation of the conflict, several Arab Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been targeted by missile and drone attacks carried out by forces affiliated with the Iranian regime.

According to various sources, these attacks have targeted not only military objectives but also civilian infrastructure, including airports, hotels, and energy facilities.

The overall recent developments indicate the simultaneous intensification of military conflict, increased international pressure, and the weakening of the Iranian regime’s decision-making structure.

While military attacks continue, the prospects for peace negotiations have also become seriously complicated due to ambiguity in the power structure and the lack of coordination within the ruling establishment.

Lawyer of Executed PMOI Members Was Unaware of Execution

Sia Rajabi
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Lawyer of Executed PMOI Members Was Unaware of Execution

Babak Paknia, a lawyer and the attorney for Akbar Daneshvar Kar and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, announced that despite the execution sentence against his clients being carried out in the early hours of March 30, the ruling still had not been officially served to him or the other lawyer in the case. In this case, Babak Paknia and Mostafa Nili were the attorneys for Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi, and Vahid Bani Amerian.

Iran’s Regime Executes Two Members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)

Babak Paknia wrote on his X social media account: “As of the moment of writing this tweet, no ruling has been served to us, and fundamentally we are not even aware of the outcome of the final proceedings, nor do we know whether this sentence has also been upheld for our clients or not.” He continued: “Before carrying out the sentence, it is necessary that its contents be served to the defense lawyers or at the very least to the defendant himself; the bare minimum right of a condemned person is to be able to benefit from the right to retrial and a stay of execution.”

The Iranian regime’s judiciary announced yesterday that two prisoners accused of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) were executed in the early hours of March 30. This morning, two other members of the PMOI were also executed by Iran’s regime.

Pouya Ghobadi, 33, an electrical engineer, and Babak Alipour, 34, who held a bachelor’s degree in law, were hanged this morning.

Amid the ongoing war, Iran’s regime intends to prevent future protests and uprisings through fear and intimidation.

Iran’s Regime Executes Two More PMOI Members, Pouya Ghabadi and Babak Alipour, In Ghezel Hesar Prison

Jubin Katiraie
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Iran’s Regime Executes Two More PMOI Members, Pouya Ghabadi and Babak Alipour, In Ghezel Hesar Prison

In another criminal act, the Iranian regime’s judiciary executed two members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), Pouya Ghabadi and Babak Alipour, in Ghezel Hesar Prison. The two political prisoners were hanged on Tuesday, March 31.

It should be recalled that two other PMOI members, Mohammad Taghavi and Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, were executed on Monday, March 30. Mizan, the state-run news agency linked to the Iranian regime’s judiciary, said the charges against these two PMOI members were participation in armed operations aimed at striking the regime’s security apparatus.

Iran’s Regime Executes Two Members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)

Mizan wrote: Babak Alipour was an organizational member of the PMOI who had a history of ties with the group going back years, and his father had also been affiliated with the PMOI in the 1980s.

Mizan said Pouya Ghabadi was charged with taking part in multiple armed operations linked to the PMOI and carrying out repeated actions against the regime’s security.

Biography of Pouya Ghabadi

Former political prisoner Pouya Ghabadi, born in 1992 in Sonqor, was an electrical engineering graduate. He was most recently arrested on December 22, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, where he was tortured and interrogated. He was later moved to the prison’s general ward.

His trial, along with seven political prisoners—Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, Mojtaba Taghavi, Babak Alipour, Vahid Bani Amerian, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Abolhassan Montazer—was held in a joint case at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on October 6, 2024.

On November 30, 2024, he, along with five other political prisoners—Vahid Bani Amerian, Babak Alipour, Seyed Abolhassan Montazer, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, and Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar—was sentenced to death and prison terms.

The charges against Pouya Ghabadi included acting against national security through membership in and effective cooperation with the PMOI, propaganda against the Iranian regime, destruction of state property, and assembly and collusion with intent to act against national security.

Political prisoner Pouya Ghabadi had previously been arrested by security forces in April 2018 and, after four months of interrogation and torture, was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison. In October 2019, he was moved from Evin to Greater Tehran Prison. After serving a one-year period under charges of “enmity against God,” he was sentenced in November 2021 to 10 years in prison.

Biography of Babak Alipour

Political prisoner Babak Alipour, born in 1991 and originally from Amol, held a bachelor’s degree in law. He and his brother Roozbeh Alipour were arrested on November 4, 2018, at the Rasht produce market.

Babak Alipour was sentenced by Branch one of the Rasht Revolutionary Court to 7 years in prison on charges of PMOI membership and insulting the supreme leader. The sentence was upheld in full appeal. He was ultimately taken into custody on July 3, 2019, to serve his sentence in Lakan Prison in Rasht. He was released after 2.5 years in prison.

He was arrested for a second time in Shahriar in November 2021 and, after serving 2 years of his sentence, was released from Ward four of Evin Prison in March 2023.

During his previous imprisonment, Babak Alipour developed an intestinal infection and prostate disease and spent long periods in severe pain without medical treatment.

He was arrested for a third time in Tehran in January 2024 and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. He remained in legal limbo there for four months.

In May 2024, after four months of uncertainty and detention in Ward 209, he and Vahid Bani Amerian were charged with “armed rebellion, membership in and cooperation with the PMOI, and assembly and collusion against the country’s security through cooperation with the PMOI.” These charges were formally communicated to him.

On May 21, 2024, Babak Alipour, along with four other political prisoners—Vahid Bani Amerian, Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghabadi, and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi—was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin to the quarantine section of Ward four.

The execution of four PMOI members—Mohammad Taghavi, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, Pouya Ghabadi, and Babak Alipour—amid conditions of war and bombardment reflects the regime’s fear and terror of its real and deeply rooted alternative, namely the Iranian Resistance. It also shows that the criminals, fearing the people’s anger and uprising, have no tool other than repression.

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