Source: The Guardian
A powerful report by The Guardian reveals the human stories behind a recent surge in executions in Iran, drawing on letters and smuggled videos from prisoners on death row. These personal testimonies provide rare insight into the final days of those executed, many of whom were accused of political crimes linked to protests and opposition movements.
At the centre of the report is Babak Alipour, a 34-year-old law graduate who spent three years on death row. Through letters written from prison and a secretly recorded video, he documented the lives, fears, and resilience of fellow inmates awaiting execution. In his writings, he described other prisoners, including older detainees and fathers separated from their families, conveying a sense of solidarity despite the looming threat of death.
Alipour himself remained defiant until the end. In a final video filmed on a smuggled phone, he criticised Iran’s leadership and warned that increasing executions were being used to instill fear in society. Less than two weeks later, on March 31, he was executed alongside fellow prisoner Pouya Ghobadi at Ghezel Hesar prison. Both men had been accused of “armed rebellion” and links to the opposition group.
The article highlights a sharp escalation in executions during the past month, with at least 16 people hanged, including both political prisoners and protesters arrested during the January unrest. Victims include individuals as young as 18, such as Amirhossein Hatami, who was reportedly executed after a confession believed to have been extracted under pressure.
Human rights organisations argue that this increase is unprecedented, particularly for political prisoners. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam of Iran Human Rights states that executions are being used deliberately to create fear and suppress dissent. According to activists, the timing is significant: the surge has coincided with a broader regional conflict involving the US and Israel, which has shifted global attention away from Iran’s internal situation.
The report also sheds light on the impact on families. In Alipour’s case, several relatives were reportedly detained after attending a vigil outside the prison. Others have faced uncertainty and distress, with some unable to recover the bodies of their loved ones after execution.
Despite international statements and political attention, including claims by figures such as Donald Trump regarding halted executions, the broader response has been limited. The article suggests that the global focus on war and geopolitical tensions has allowed Iranian authorities to carry out executions with reduced scrutiny.
Ultimately, the report portrays a system where executions are not only a form of punishment but also a strategic tool of control. Through letters and final messages, those on death row sought to leave behind a record of resistance, hoping their voices would be heard beyond prison walls—even as they faced imminent death.