Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, May 12: Iranian authorities on Tuesday executed a man convicted of armed rebellion and involvement in militant attacks, marking another execution amid a growing crackdown during the country’s ongoing tensions with Israel and the United States.
According to the judiciary’s official Mizan Online portal, Abdoljalil Shahbakhsh, identified as a member of the militant outfit Ansar al-Furqan, was put to death after being found guilty of carrying out armed assaults on police facilities and participating in anti-state activities.
Officials stated that Shahbakhsh had taken part in attacks during the nationwide protests that erupted across Iran in 2022 and 2023 following the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Her death had sparked widespread demonstrations and international criticism of Iranian authorities.
Iranian authorities said the Supreme Court upheld the sentence before the execution was carried out.
Ansar al-Furqan operates mainly in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province and has been linked to several attacks targeting security personnel in recent years.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised Iran’s use of capital punishment. Rights groups estimate that the country remains one of the world’s leading executioners, second only to China in the number of death sentences carried out annually.
The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights claimed that at least 1,500 executions were conducted in Iran last year, placing the country among those with the highest execution rates globally.
Iran has reportedly intensified executions linked to espionage, terrorism, and national security charges since the escalation of conflict with Israel and the United States earlier this year. Although a ceasefire has been in effect since April 8, authorities continue to pursue security-related prosecutions aggressively.
Just a day earlier, Iranian authorities executed another individual accused of spying for Israel and the United States, according to state media.