The Iranian judiciary has announced the execution of Pedram Madani, accused of “spying for Israel.” According to reports from the state-linked news agency Mizan, Madani was hanged on the morning of June 7. Human Rights Watch had raised alarms about the imminent threat of his execution just days prior.
Mizan reported that Madani was arrested in 2019 on charges of “spying and acquiring illegal wealth through receiving foreign currency in Europe and digital currency.” The report indicates that Madani, who had previously traveled back and forth to Germany, allegedly attempted to send classified information, including locations and buildings housing infrastructure equipment, to Israel’s Mossad through secure communications.
In the days leading up to his execution, social media reports indicated concerns over Madani being transferred from Evin Prison to Qezel Hessar Prison. His mother expressed deep worries in a video, calling for an immediate review of her son’s “ambiguous” case and lamenting the lack of transparency regarding his status.
Prominent figures such as writer Sadiqe Vosoughi and human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi had called for an immediate halt to the execution. Olivier Grandot, a former French prisoner in Iran, also voiced significant concern for his former cellmate and urged the international community to take action to stop the execution. Additionally, Hana Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, demanded the immediate cancellation of his death sentence, emphasizing the troubling aspects surrounding the legal process and the independence of the judiciary in Madani’s case.
The execution of Pedram Madani occurred the day after Human Rights Watch issued a report warning of a rising tide of executions in Iran, highlighting the imminent threat faced by several political prisoners, including the 41-year-old engineer. The organization described the ongoing wave of executions as “horrific,” urging the international community to apply pressure on Iranian authorities to prevent further executions.
In an alarming statistic shared by Human Rights Watch, 113 individuals were reportedly executed in Iran within the first 25 days of May 2023, bringing the total number of executions in the country for the year to 478. The report noted a staggering 75% rise in executions in the first four months of 2023 compared to the same period the previous year. Alarmingly, if this pattern persists, over a thousand individuals, including political dissidents and members of ethnic minorities, may face execution by the end of the year.
Human Rights Watch has documented a troubling increase in executions targeting women and marginalized communities, with over 110 individuals executed in April, including the specific cases of women, Afghan nationals, and individuals from ethnic minorities.
Concerns extend beyond Madani as the organization has highlighted the imminent danger facing other political prisoners, including Mahdi Hasani and Behrooz Ehsani Islamloo, who are currently held in Qezel Hessar Prison under vague accusations and have faced severe mistreatment during their detainment.
Human rights organizations have consistently condemned executions in Iran, advocating for an immediate end to such practices. A movement dubbed “No to Execution Tuesdays” has emerged among death row inmates since January 2024, seeking to draw international attention to the ongoing surge in executions and appealing for a collective response from the global community. The campaign has garnered support from human rights advocates, including Shirin Ebadi and Narges Mohammadi.
The case underscores the dire situation surrounding political prisoners in Iran and the urgent need for global awareness and intervention.