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As thousands of Iranians worldwide honor the victims of the massacre of political prisoners in the summer of 1988, the regime under the new president Massoud Pezeshkian has escalated its repressive tactics, setting a grim record for executions. On August 7, at least 29 prisoners were executed in a single day—the highest number in years. The executions included 26 inmates in Ghezel Hesar Prison and three, including two women, in Karaj Central Prison. The day before, Reza Rasaei, a political prisoner arrested during the 2022 uprising, was hanged in Kermanshah. Since the regime’s sham elections, 87 citizens have been killed by the state.
Despite condemnations and statements of concern by the international community, the regime’s confidence in impunity remains steadfast. For many years, the UN Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman has emphasized that systemic impunity has enabled the regime to perpetuate its brutal approaches. “Institutional impunity and the absence of a system for accountability for violations of human rights permeate the political and legal system of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The absence of accountability derives from various deficiencies within State structures, including negating the principles of rule of law and separation of powers,” Prof. Rehman stated in his report.
This entrenched impunity has allowed key figures responsible for past atrocities to continue their repressive actions. Failing to hold the regime accountable for the 1988 massacre has enabled it to perpetuate its brutal suppression of dissent to this date.
For 3 decades, the int’l com.has been silent over the #1988massacre. The mullahs have continued with impunity to violate human rights in Iran, launch terrorist operations, and wage wars in the Middle East and other countries. Now, the time has come to end this silence. pic.twitter.com/NIDTA1EN6S
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) August 25, 2018
The regime’s ruthless suppression of dissent was glaringly apparent during the November 2019 protests. Triggered by an abrupt increase in fuel prices, the demonstrations rapidly transformed into a nationwide uprising. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s directive to “do whatever it takes” resulted in a brutal crackdown, leading to the deaths of approximately 1,500 protesters, including women and minors. In a similar pattern, the 2022 uprisings faced severe repression, with over 750 protesters killed, more than 30,000 arrested, hundreds subjected to rape, and at least ten dissidents executed to date.
Amnesty International’s Secretary-General Agnès Callamard has highlighted the entrenched impunity within Tehran’s political system. “That Ebrahim Raisi has risen to the presidency instead of being investigated for the crimes against humanity… is a grim reminder that impunity reigns supreme in Iran,” Callamard stated in 2021. Under Raisi’s tenure as head of the judiciary, a severe crackdown on human rights occurred, with peaceful dissidents, human rights defenders, and members of persecuted minority groups arbitrarily detained, subjected to enforced disappearances, and tortured.
Although Raisi’s death in May 2024 marked the end of an era, his legacy of impunity and repression continues. Raisi, a key member of the 1988 Death Commission, played a pivotal role in the mass executions of political dissidents. The legacy of this brutality persists under the current regime, as evidenced by the recent surge in executions.
These executions, driven by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s iron grip, reflect a ruthless response to potential uprisings. The past four days have seen a death toll of 42, underscoring the regime’s unyielding stance against dissent. This surge in executions under Pezeshkian’s administration starkly contradicts his portrayal as a “moderate leader.”
#MaryamRajavi: For 3 decades, int’l com. has been silent over #1988massacre.
The mullahs have continued w/ impunity to violate human rights in #Iran, launch terrorist operations, and wage wars in Middle East and other countries. Now, time has come to end this silence. pic.twitter.com/773U9K4auj— Women's Committee NCRI (@womenncri) August 25, 2018
July’s execution figures, reported by Iran Human Rights Monitor, were alarmingly high, with 53 individuals put to death compared to 10 in June. This wave of brutality included the execution of five women, highlighting the regime’s indiscriminate cruelty.
The UN Special Rapporteur has consistently called for an independent international investigative and accountability mechanism to address these grave violations of human rights. This proposed mechanism aims to gather and preserve evidence for future prosecutions and ensure justice for the victims of the regime’s atrocities.
As the world recognizes the memory of more than 30,000 political prisoners of 1988, the ongoing executions and repression in Iran highlight the regime’s unwavering commitment to its brutal methods. The international community must move beyond verbal condemnations and take decisive actions to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its continued human rights abuses.
Time to end impunity in Iran. Those responsible for the #1988Massacre should be brought to justice.
Canada and 46 other countries sponsored a new resolution in the UN 3rd committee today to condemn human rights violations and the culture of impunity in Iran. #ProsecuteRaisiNOW pic.twitter.com/vfZoXSWzRy— Aladdin Touran (@AladdinTouran) November 17, 2021
