"To wake up and see every day an execution of political prisoners and protesters, and many of them actually very young. I think, actually, the brutality of execution is not comparable to anything. And they're just people like all of us with the same demand, with the same dreams."
"During the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022, Maghzi and her team at Follow Up Iran fielded a total of 30 calls from families of protesters who'd been detained. Then in January of this year, after authorities opened fire on widespread demonstrations, killing thousands and imprisoning more than 53,000 people, the floodgates opened."
"But this time, actually, every day, each of the lawyers had 10 calls from all over Iran. And it was really - it was so difficult to handle it, you know, emotionally, I have to say."
Iran has executed more than 600 people since the start of the year, with dozens being political prisoners and protesters from anti-government demonstrations in January. Human rights organizations report this represents a horrific escalation in executions aimed at quelling dissent during a fragile ceasefire period between the U.S. and Iran. Human rights lawyer Afrooz Maghzi, based in Germany, documents daily executions and provides legal assistance to families of death row prisoners. Following January's widespread protests that resulted in thousands killed and over 53,000 imprisoned, her organization received exponentially more calls for help. Iran's judiciary head called for speedy trials with no mercy for those deemed unworthy.
#iran-executions #political-prisoners #human-rights-violations #anti-government-protests #death-penalty
Read at www.npr.org
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