Following military defeat, Tehran unleashes brutal wave of repression targeting political prisoners, minorities, and civil society
In the aftermath of the 12-day war that dealt significant political and strategic blows to the Iranian regime, July 2025 has been marked by a surge in executions, arbitrary arrests, and state-sponsored violence. While Tehran reels from its external failures, it has intensified its internal repression in a bid to maintain control.
In the days following the ceasefire, Iran’s intelligence and security forces launched a sweeping crackdown across the country under the pretext of counter-espionage. Alongside this campaign, a horrific assault was carried out inside Qezel Hesar Prison, where agents stormed Hall 4, beat political prisoners, and transferred many to solitary confinement. The operation culminated in the execution of two long-time political prisoners: Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, 70, and Mehdi Hassani, 48.
Summary of Human Rights Violations in July 2025
Executions
At least 113 executions were officially reported across Iran in July, including:
- 105 men executed in prison
- 3 women executed in prison
- 3 men executed in public
- 2 political prisoners executed in prison
Among the victims were 13 Baluch citizens, 7 Kurds, and 5 Afghan nationals—reflecting the regime’s ongoing targeting of ethnic and religious minorities.
Executed Women:
- Atefeh Amini, 35, executed July 21 in Yazd Central Prison on murder charges
- Mahtab Bayati, executed July 30 in Mashhad Central Prison on drug-related charges
- Nahid Jokar, 52, executed July 31 in Shiraz Central Prison on drug-related charges
Public Executions:
- Unidentified man, executed July 9 in Baroq on murder charges
- Ilya Khalifehzadeh, executed July 12 in Bukan for rape and murder
- Unidentified 25-year-old, executed July 30 in Damghan on murder charges
Political Prisoners:
- Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani were executed on July 27 in Qezel Hesar Prison on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God) and rebellion.
- Ehsani was arrested during the 2022 uprising and held in Evin Prison’s Ward 209.
- Hassani, arrested in Zanjan in September 2022, was tortured for months and accused of ties to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), collusion, and gathering classified information.
Arrests
Throughout July, at least 350 people were arrested, including:
Political Arrests – 195 Individuals:
- Supporters of the PMOI
- Alleged spies for Israel
- Activists and civil society figures: teachers, students, writers, filmmakers, and lawyers
- Labor leaders: including the head of the Bakers Union
- Family members of victims of the 2022 uprising
- Citizens from ethnic groups, especially Kurds and Baluch
Arbitrary Arrests – 147 Individuals:
- Afghan workers and Baluch citizens arrested while traveling for work
- Sunni activists detained without clear charges
Religious Arrests – 8 Individuals:
- Baha’i and Christian citizens arrested and imprisoned without due process
Arbitrary Killings
At least 36 people were killed by state forces in July, including:
- 2 fuel carriers
- 6 Kurdish porters (kulbars)
- 28 other civilians
Torture and Inhumane Punishment
- Flogging: An environmental activist was sentenced to 30 lashes by a local court in Dareh Shahr
- Amputation: Three prisoners in Urmia Central Prison had four fingers amputated in a continuation of medieval punishments
A Regime in Crisis, Clinging to Repression
The alarming escalation in executions and arrests throughout July illustrates the regime’s increasing reliance on violence and fear to retain power. Even during a time when national mourning or unity might have been expected, the regime could not halt its machinery of repression—instead, it intensified it.
The targeting of women, ethnic and religious minorities, political dissidents, and civil society actors indicates a systematic and deliberate campaign to crush dissent at all levels. As the regime’s grip on power weakens, its response has grown more desperate and brutal.
The international community must not remain silent in the face of these atrocities. The events of July are not isolated incidents—they are part of a broader pattern of state terror being deployed to suppress a nation that is increasingly demanding freedom, justice, and change.
