Source: The Sunday Times
A report by The Sunday Times highlights a sharp and unprecedented rise in executions in Iran, drawing on smuggled videos and documents from inside the country’s prisons. These materials offer a rare glimpse into the final moments of political prisoners and their acts of resistance before death.
One such case is that of Pouya Ghobadi, a 33-year-old electrical engineer, who was filmed singing a defiant protest song in a prison yard shortly before his execution. Just weeks later, on March 31, he was hanged after being accused of “armed rebellion” and links to opposition groups. According to Amnesty International, he was allegedly tortured prior to his execution. Ghobadi was one of at least 17 individuals executed within a short period, indicating a dramatic acceleration in the use of capital punishment.
Videos obtained from Ghezel Hesar and Evin prisons show inmates taking oaths, recording final messages, and singing resistance songs together. In one clip, six condemned prisoners stand united in defiance, singing shortly before their deaths. These prisons, particularly Ghezel Hesar, have long been criticized for overcrowding and inhumane conditions.
Another prisoner, Vahid Baniamerian, directly addressed Iran’s Supreme Leader in a recorded message, accusing the regime of using executions to instill fear. He described poverty and social injustice as motivations behind his participation in protests. Like many others, he was subjected to a brief trial with limited access to independent legal representation before being executed.
Human rights observers report that in 2025 alone, more than 1,600 executions took place in Iran—a significant increase from the previous year. Since the start of recent regional tensions, at least 145 executions have been confirmed, with hundreds more unverified. Activists argue that global focus on geopolitical conflicts has allowed Iranian authorities to intensify domestic repression with limited international scrutiny.
The report also raises concerns about cases involving accusations of espionage or rebellion, where evidence is often lacking and confessions may be extracted under coercion. In one example, a man who reportedly alerted authorities to suspicious contacts was nevertheless charged and executed for espionage.
Families of the executed are frequently not informed in advance, lawyers are denied proper access, and bodies are often withheld. Rights groups argue that these practices demonstrate a systematic use of executions as a tool of fear and control rather than justice.
Ultimately, the article portrays a justice system marked by secrecy, speed, and severity—one that human rights advocates describe as a “machinery of fear,” aimed at suppressing dissent and maintaining power.