Detailed account reveals deception, violence, and defiance in final moments as PMOI warns prison officials of accountability
In the wake of the execution of six members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) at Ghezel Hesar Prison, the organization has issued a strongly worded statement detailing the circumstances surrounding their deaths and warning those responsible of future accountability.
According to the statement, the executions were carried out following a coordinated operation by prison guards late in the evening of March 29, 2026. At approximately 9:30 p.m., more than 20 guards reportedly stormed the political prisoners’ ward in Unit 4 under the pretext of conducting a routine inspection. The operation was led by a senior prison official identified as Hassan Qobadi.
Witness accounts indicate that guards deliberately misled inmates, instructing them to leave their cells without taking any belongings, assuring them that “there is no problem” and that it was merely an inspection. Once prisoners gathered in the corridor, officials began calling out names, revealing that six individuals had been singled out for execution.
The report describes instances of violence during the transfer. One prisoner, Vahid Bani Amerian, reportedly resisted being handcuffed and was severely beaten by multiple guards, sustaining visible injuries to his head and face. Another prisoner, Ali Younesi, was struck in the face by an officer identified as Qasem Sahraei after stating his full name.
As tensions escalated, prisoners voiced open defiance. Saeed Masouri reportedly shouted, “Execute all of us—death to Khamenei,” underscoring the atmosphere of resistance within the ward.
A total of 21 prisoners were handcuffed and taken to a holding area known as “under eight,” where the six condemned individuals were separated from the rest. In a final act of solidarity, fellow inmates embraced and bid farewell to the six, urging perseverance in their cause.
According to the account, prison officials appeared visibly surprised by the composure of the condemned prisoners, noting the absence of fear or distress. One inmate, overcome with emotion, began to cry while embracing them, but was reportedly encouraged to remain strong. “Do not cry and do not let the enemy see your tears,” several of the condemned told him.
In their final moments, the prisoners maintained calm and resolve. One reportedly smiled and reassured others, while another raised his handcuffed hands in a gesture of farewell as they were led away.
Following the transfer, the remaining prisoners were reportedly placed in solitary confinement as punishment for protesting and creating unrest.
The PMOI statement directly names Ghezel Hesar Prison chief Alah-Karam Azizi, along with Hassan Qobadi and Qasem Sahraei, as responsible parties. The organization warns that those involved in executions “must not forget the accountability they face.”
The statement further alleges that the same officials had previously overseen other executions, including those of PMOI members Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani.
In its concluding remarks, the organization calls on citizens with information about prison officials and execution personnel to share it through secure channels. It specifically recommends the use of encrypted communication methods, including platforms such as “Radio Payam,” which reportedly operates via satellite and shortwave channels.
The executions come amid ongoing concerns about the treatment of political prisoners in Iran and the broader use of capital punishment as a tool of repression.
