The fall of the Syrian dictator and the subsequent uncovering of the horrors within Syria’s prisons exposed the unspeakable crimes committed under the regime’s watch—atrocities enabled by the international community’s silence. Today, Iran faces a similar tragedy. We must not allow silence to give the Iranian regime a free pass to massacre its freedom fighters.
In 2024 alone, Iran has executed 850 individuals, breaking the global record for executions per capita. These figures are not mere statistics but represent lives lost, stories erased, and sacrifices made by those fighting for freedom. Among the latest condemned are six brave individuals who have been sentenced to death for their affiliation with the (PMOI), a group advocating for democracy and freedom in the face of oppression.
The six men facing imminent execution include:
- Mohammad Taghavi, 58, a survivor of the 1980s massacres, sentenced on November 25, 2024.
- Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, 57, a civil engineer.
- Babak Alipour, 33, a law graduate.
- Vahid Bani-Amerian, 32, a management master’s graduate.
- Pouya Ghobadi, 32, an electrical engineer.
- Abolhassan Montazer, 65, an architect with chronic illnesses and a survivor of previous imprisonment in the 1980s.
Their so-called crime? Advocating for democracy and supporting the PMOI. Beyond baseless accusations, their “offense” lies in their fight for freedom against tyranny.
The Case of Mohammad Taghavi
Among these men, Mohammad Taghavi’s life is in particularly grave danger. A former political prisoner during the 1980s and 1990s, Taghavi was arrested again in 2020 and imprisoned for three years on similar charges. Recently, he was transferred to solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, signaling that his execution could occur at any moment.
Ward 209, controlled by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, is infamous for its brutal torture and inhumane treatment of political detainees. Taghavi is also one of the last surviving witnesses of the 1988 Massacre—a potential motive for the regime to silence him permanently.
Remembering the 1988 Massacre
The 1988 massacre claimed the lives of 30,000 political prisoners, 90% of whom were PMOI members. In his recent report, former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Professor Javaid Rehman, classified these killings, along with the 1982 executions, as genocide. Rehman’s report highlights atrocities committed by the Iranian regime, including the persecution of religious minorities, sexual violence, execution of children, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
The regime’s crackdown extends beyond the six condemned men. Taghavi’s brothers, Mojtaba and Ali, have also been sentenced to imprisonment and exile, merely for being related to him.
A Call to Action
The world cannot remain silent as these heinous crimes unfold. Just as the global community exposed the horrors of Syria’s Saydnaya Prison, we must shed light on the atrocities in Iranian prisons. History will judge our ability to defend these defenders of freedom and stop the cycle of barbarity. Silence is complicity. Now is the time to act.