Brussels, 1 May 2026 – In a letter addressed to the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the European Union, the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), supported by more than 4,000 cross-party lawmakers across Europe and North America, called for urgent and decisive action in response to a sharp escalation of executions in Iran.
The letter warned that in recent weeks alone, the Iranian regime has executed at least 18 dissidents, including 10 young protesters and eight members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK). A further 11 MEK members remain on death row, facing imminent execution.
These targeted executions are part of a far broader pattern. According to the letter, no fewer than 670 prisoners have been executed in recent months, placing the regime on a trajectory to surpass the already alarming figures recorded in 2025, when as many as 2,028 executions were documented by opposition monitoring sources.
The ISJ emphasized that the regime has exploited the fog of war to accelerate executions, seeking to reduce international scrutiny while intensifying repression at home. These actions, the letter stressed, are not isolated incidents but calculated instruments of political control. Statements by Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Eje’i, are cited as underscoring the use of executions to suppress dissent and instill fear.
“The regime’s actions reflect profound fear of its own people,” the letter stated, noting that rising internal pressures have been met with increased executions and torture, particularly targeting political prisoners. It further warned that continued international silence risks emboldening further abuses and sustaining a climate of impunity.
The ISJ called on world leaders to act with clarity and resolve by:
• Publicly and unequivocally condemning these executions as politically motivated;
• Demanding an immediate halt to all executions and the use of torture, especially against political prisoners;
• Holding those responsible accountable, including through targeted sanctions;
• Supporting international investigations into these acts as potential crimes against humanity.
The letter further urged that any engagement or negotiations with the Iranian regime must place an immediate halt to executions, torture, and all human rights abuses at the forefront as a non-negotiable condition.
