Iran executed a man accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence, as the country witnesses an increase in capital punishment cases.
Iran Executes Man for Alleged Espionage
Iran carried out the death sentence on a man convicted of cooperating with Israeli intelligence, Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s news portal, reported Thursday.
Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr was a member of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), an exiled opposition group, and the latest individual accused of espionage.
Rising Number of Executions in Iran
Mizan reported that the executed man had been a long-time member of the MEK, but did not provide details regarding the allegations of collaboration with Mossad.
Recent Executions Linked to Espionage
At least four executions have been carried out in Iran since Monday, according to the dpa news agency, with three linked to convictions for espionage.
On Wednesday, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported the hanging of a former employee of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, also convicted of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. Two days prior, media reported the execution of two men accused of working with Mossad and planning attacks within the country.
Espionage Accusations as a Tool for Purges?
Hengaw, a Norway-based independent human rights organization, noted in a Wednesday statement that the Tehran regime systematically uses accusations of espionage for Israel as a tool for internal purges and justification for repression.
Amnesty International Condemns Use of Death Penalty
Amnesty International stated in a March report that Iranian authorities continue to use the death penalty to silence and intimidate citizens. The organization highlighted a series of executions since the 2022 protests, stating that courts are “condemning thousands of people to death following grossly unfair trials.”
The rate of executions has accelerated after the 12-day war in 2025, reaching a scale unseen in over four decades, according to Amnesty, which described the ongoing trials as “flagrantly unfair and marred by torture.”
Arrests Following US-Israel Conflict with Iran
The Iran Human Rights emigrant organization assessed on Tuesday that at least 3646 people have been arrested in the country since February 28, when the US-Israel war with Iran began. Arrests have continued even after the ceasefire on April 8.
Who are the People’s Mujahedin?
The People’s Mujahedin, to which Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr allegedly belonged, began their opposition activities in the mid-1960s. They aimed to overthrow the monarchy in Iran and opposed Western imperialism, combining elements of Marxist ideology with Shia Islam. They supported Ayatollah Khomeini during the Islamic Revolution of 1978-1979.
Soon after the revolution, the MEK clashed with the new authorities in Tehran and were outlawed. Many members emigrated, continuing their opposition activities. By the early 21st century, they functioned as an armed organization and were designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the USA until 2012.
