![\"recent-executions-point-to-potential-for-much-larger-scale-killings-in-iran\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/recent-executions-point-to-potential-for-much-larger-scale-killings-in-iran.jpg\" "\\"recent-executions-point-to-potential-for-much-larger-scale-killings-in-iran\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Last Sunday, at least three inmates were executed in just one prison in Iran. Four others in that same facility, Urmia Prison, were transferred to solitary confinement at the same time, which indicates that they are at imminent risk of being hanged, as well. In recent months, these stories of actual and threatened mass execution have been a near daily occurrence. More than 30 individuals were executed in the first month of 2021 alone, putting the country on course to exceed last year\u2019s total of 267 killings.<\/p>\n
It is worth noting that that total is only an estimate, as is the total for each prior year going back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Under the theocratic regime, the judiciary has a long history of formally announcing only a portion of its implemented death sentences. Only 91 fell into this category in 2020. The remaining 176 were uncovered by human rights activists or directly revealed to the international community by fellow inmates. This is typical of human rights monitoring in Iran, and the regime has refused participation with United Nations authorities and credible NGOs throughout its four-decade history.<\/p>\n
Despite the secrecy and vagueness that plagues that monitoring, there has never been any doubt about the Iranian regime\u2019s place as the world\u2019s foremost abuser of the death penalty or one of the last countries on Earth to routinely issue capital sentences for persons who were under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged offense. Neither has there been much doubt about the fact that many of Iran\u2019s annual executions are politically motivated, although the number of such instances can be difficult to determine on account of the judiciary\u2019s use of bogus charges like \u201cenmity against God\u201d as tools for securing capital sentences.<\/p>\n
In recent months, there has been accelerating reporting of persons deemed guilty of these sorts of abuses being subjected to routine abuse, if not to arbitrary execution. As just one example, Saeid Sangar<\/a> recently had 11 months added onto his sentence without explanation, after completing a term that had previously been extended from 18 to 20 years. During his term of imprisonment, he was reportedly subjected to more than a dozen mock executions as part of an effort to compel him to provide a forced confession that would be aired on state television.<\/p>\n #Iran<\/a>: Prisoner of Conscience Saeid Sangar Re-Sentenced After 20 Years in Prison, Tortured for Supporting #MEK<\/a> #HumanRights<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/v9Isd7d8hh<\/a><\/p>\n — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 25, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n