Hanged under the cover of war: letters and videos tell stories of Iran’s death row victims
Iran has carried out a surge of executions amid the Gaza war, targeting political prisoners and protestors. The case of Babak Alipour, a law graduate from Amol, illustrates the regime’s use of death sentences to instill fear. Human rights groups warn that these killings are a tool of repression, no…
In the early months of 2024, Iran’s security forces intensified executions of political prisoners and protestors, a tactic that many observers say is designed to frighten a society already rattled by war. The most recent victim, 34‑year‑old Babak Alipour, was hanged on 31 March after spending three years on death row in Karaj’s Rajai Shahr prison. His story, recorded in letters and a secretly filmed video, offers a stark glimpse into the regime’s brutal calculus.
Alipour’s Final Messages
While confined, Alipour kept a journal in which he described fellow inmates such as 69‑year‑old Behrouz Ehsani, a quiet elder who accepted his fate, and 48‑year‑old Mehdi Hassani, a father who asked Alipour to reassure his children that he was “fine.” Alipour, a law graduate with a passion for mountaineering, wrote that he was not intimidated by the looming execution. On 12 March he recorded a short video on a smuggled phone, condemning the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and warning that the regime’s brutality would intensify during the Gaza conflict.
Alipour’s family suffered as well. His brother Roozbeh, sister Maryam, and mother Ommolbanin Dehghan were arrested after attending a vigil outside the prison. By the time Alipour was taken to the Ghezel Hesar gallows, his brother had vanished from public view, and his father, a farmer whose clothing business had collapsed, could not recover his son’s remains.
The Broader Wave of Executions
Between March and early April, Iran executed 16 men, half of them political prisoners and half protestors. The youngest, 18‑year‑old Amirhossein Hatami, was hanged on 2 April after a forced confession linked to a January protest attack on a Revolutionary Guard base. The most recent execution, that of 24‑year‑old Amirali Mirjafari, a student and computer technician, occurred on a Tuesday in the same month.
Human rights activists report that 11 political prisoners remain on death row, aged 23 to 68. Among them is Reza Younesi, a 45‑year‑old chemistry professor at Uppsala University who has lived in Sweden for two decades. His brother, Ali, a 26‑year‑old astronomy student, was arrested in Iran six years ago, and their 73‑year‑old father, Yousef, disappeared three years earlier. Younesi’s account of his father’s disappearance from the prison system highlights the uncertainty and fear that pervade families of detainees.
War as a Catalyst for Repression
Experts argue that the escalation of the Gaza war has provided the regime with a pretext to increase executions. Mahmood Amiry‑Moghaddam, director of the Norway‑based Iran Human Rights group, noted that the political cost of executing protestors is normally high, but the war has shifted the calculus. “The regime uses the penalty to spread fear when the international community is distracted,” he said.
Donald Trump’s recent claim that he persuaded Tehran to spare eight women from execution has not been corroborated by Iranian officials, who denied the White House’s assertion. Meanwhile, the U.S. has not announced any public stance on the men who have been executed, leaving families and activists in limbo.
What Happens Next?
With the war continuing, the regime’s pattern of using executions as a tool of intimidation is likely to persist. Human rights groups warn that the lack of international pressure and the regime’s confidence in its internal security apparatus mean that more political prisoners could face the gallows. Families, such as Alipour’s, remain in a state of uncertainty, hoping for a future where justice, rather than terror, prevails.
In the meantime, activists and journalists continue to document and publicize the stories of those who have been silenced. Their work underscores the urgent need for global attention to Iran’s human rights violations and the protection of those who dare to dissent.
Why it matters
These executions illustrate how authoritarian regimes exploit conflict to suppress dissent and instill fear. Highlighting individual stories humanizes the statistics and urges international action to protect human rights.
Key points
- Iran executed 16 political prisoners and protestors between March and April 2024
- Babak Alipour’s letters and video reveal the regime’s brutal tactics
- The Gaza war has intensified the regime’s use of executions as a tool of intimidation
- Families of detainees face uncertainty and loss, with many unable to recover remains
- Human rights groups warn that the political cost of executions has dropped during wartime
Frequently asked questions
What is the current status of political prisoners in Iran?
There are 11 political prisoners remaining on death row, aged 23 to 68, according to human rights activists.
How has the Gaza war affected Iran’s execution policy?
The war has provided a pretext for the regime to increase executions, using them to spread fear and suppress dissent.
What can families of executed prisoners do?
Families can document the cases, seek international advocacy, and engage with human rights organizations to raise awareness.
