The Australian Supporters of Democracy in Iran, a coalition of lawmakers, politicians, and human rights advocates, has written to Foreign Minister Penny Wong urging the Australian government to condemn the Iranian regime’s latest wave of executions targeting political prisoners. The group highlighted the death sentences recently handed down to six members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Iman Afshari.
The six individuals—Abolhassan Montazer (65), Pouya Ghobadi (32), Vahid Bani-Amrian (32), Babak Alipour (33), Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar (57), and Mohammad Taghavi (58)—were convicted following months of interrogation and torture. Charges against them include “armed rebellion against the government” and “membership in the PMOI/MEK.” The letter also denounced the imprisonment and exile sentences given to Mojtaba and Ali Taghavi, brothers of Mohammad Taghavi, based solely on familial association.
The organization noted that these sentences are part of a broader crackdown under Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, with over 250 executions since July 2024. The group called on Australia to leverage its diplomatic channels and advocate at the United Nations to halt the executions and hold Iran accountable for its human rights violations.
“Executions in Iran have become a tool to suppress dissent and intimidate a restive population,” the letter stated, emphasizing the need for urgent international pressure to protect those targeted.
The letter was signed by a distinguished list of Australian lawmakers and public figures, including former senators, members of the House of Representatives, state legislators, religious leaders, and academics.
The group also copied the appeal to key international officials, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, underscoring the urgency of coordinated global action.
