Beyond Borders: How Iran’s Internal Repression Fuels Regional Conflict And Global Outcry – OpEd
The news of Maryam Akbari Monfared's extended sentence was deeply shocking this week. A mother of three daughters, Maryam was arrested while putting her 4-year-old daughter to bed.
Now, after 15 years of imprisonment without a single day of furlough, she has been transferred from Semnan Prison, where she was in exile, to Qarchak Prison in Varamin—an infamous facility known for its harsh conditions. Maryam's only "crime" is her relentless pursuit of justice and accountability for the unjust executions of her siblings in 1980s as political prisoners in Iran. Maryam’s courage in seeking justice for her family has made her a target of ongoing persecution by the regime.
The Iranian regime has long used violence as a tool to suppress dissent and maintain its hold on power. Recent months have seen an unprecedented surge in executions, with over 500 reported in 2024 alone. This includes the execution of more than 300 prisoners since the inauguration of the new president, Pezeshkian, in August. The regime has carried out executions at an alarming rate. These executions serve as a method of silencing political opposition and dissent within the country, reminiscent of the 1988 massacre when 30,000 political prisoners were executed. As internal protests grow and international pressures mount, Tehran’s response has been to increase its use of the death penalty as a means of instilling fear and control.
Externally, Iran’s aggressive foreign policy exacerbates conflicts throughout the Middle East. By financing, training, and arming proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Iraq, the regime fuels regional instability. Senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, have openly admitted that Iran's involvement in these conflicts serves to distract from the regime's internal struggles. Khamenei has stated, "If we do not fight in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Iraq, we will have to fight in Tehran." This clear admission underscores the regime's strategy of exporting conflict to prevent domestic unrest.
Iran's foreign interventions serve to distract the international community from its severe human rights violations at home. The humanitarian crisis within Iran, marked by the systematic repression of its population, is too often overshadowed by the focus on regional conflicts.
Despite the severity of these crises, effective international action has been hindered by geopolitical considerations and misinformation propagated by the Iranian regime. Global powers have been reluctant to confront Tehran out of fear of further destabilising the region. Additionally, the regime’s efforts to delegitimise opposition groups have been somewhat effective in diverting attention from its own abuses.
However, international bodies such as the United Nations have voiced strong opposition to Iran’s increasing use of executions. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and various UN thematic mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on Iran, Professor Javaid Rehman, have condemned the surge in executions, calling on Tehran to halt these unlawful acts. The joint statement issued by the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand also highlights the regime’s brutal repression of women, girls, and political activists.
UN experts have described Iran’s executions as unlawful, pointing to serious violations of fair trial and due process rights and urged Iran to immediately halt the use of the death penalty.
In response to the crisis, political prisoners in Iran have initiated the "No to Executions Tuesdays" campaign, which has gained traction in 22 prisons across the country. This campaign, in its 39th consecutive week, protests the regime's widespread use of executions as a political tool. Additionally, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), led by President-elect Maryam Rajavi, has launched a global campaign against executions. The campaign has received support from 1,500 prominent personalities across 78 countries, including parliamentarians, former presidents, and Nobel Prize winners.
The global community must act decisively to address both Iran’s internal repression and its destabilising activities in the Middle East. To address the escalating human rights crisis in Iran, it is crucial to establish an international accountability process that holds the regime responsible for its unlawful executions and crimes against humanity. Iran's human rights record should be referred to the International Criminal Court or an international tribunal to ensure justice for victims of these atrocities.
These demands must also be included in the UN General Assembly’s annual resolution on Iran, calling for urgent action. Additionally, cooperation with the main Iranian opposition, NCRI, and activists who are campaigning for accountability is essential to amplify the global response. Imposing sanctions on Iran’s leaders and senior officials responsible for human rights violations will further pressure the regime. Finally, diplomatic relations with Iran should be severed until the regime halts executions and releases all political prisoners.
The situation in Iran is urgent, and the risk of another massacre is real. Without decisive international intervention, the cycle of repression and violence will continue, both within Iran and across the region. The global community must take action to stop the executions and hold the Iranian regime accountable for its crimes.