Latest news with #IHR
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Iran hangs man convicted of Israel spying, activists slam 'unfair' trial
Iran on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) executed a man convicted of spying for Israel, in defiance of pleas from his family and activists for his life to be spared after what they described as an unfair trial. Pedram Madani, 41, was hanged in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran after earlier this week being transferred from Evin prison in the capital where he had been held following his arrest in 2019. He is the second man to be executed by Iran on charges of spying for Israel within two months, amid a surge in executions on all charges which activists say is aimed at instilling fear in the population. The hanging comes against the background of a new period of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which the Islamic republic does not recognise, over the Iranian nuclear programme. The judiciary's Mizan Online website said Madani had been "spying in favour of the Zionist regime", using the term employed by institutions in the Islamic republic to denote Israel. "Following the complete process of criminal procedure and the final confirmation and upholding of the verdict by the Supreme Court, he was brought to justice and executed," it said. 'Unfair process' But activists and his family said that the case against him was deeply flawed and he had notably been denied the right to a lawyer of his choosing during the legal process. Madani "was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court without access to a lawyer of his choice, through an unfair and non-transparent process orchestrated by security agencies," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) which tracks the death penalty in Iran, told AFP. "The Islamic Republic's goal in executing Pedram Madani and others who are hanged daily is solely to instill fear within society and to conceal the regime's widespread corruption and systemic failures." The Dadban legal monitor said in a statement on social media that in such a trial before a Revolutionary Court the defendant is denied the possibility of defending himself and the judge also has "no option" of rejecting the case. "It is more than a legal accusation — it is a charge used as a tool to issue and carry out the death penalty," it said. In a video posted on Tuesday by IHR and other groups warning of the risk of the imminent execution, his mother described Madani as a "man who loves his country and loves his family." "My son's case is full of flaws and his death sentence must be revoked," she said. 'False confessions' There had on the eve of the execution been numerous pleas from Iranian campaigners for his life to be spared, including from Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi, currently on temporary release from serving her own prison sentence. "The Islamic republic uses the death penalty as a tool to instill fear and intensify repression against the people," she said in a video statement. "There was not even a chosen lawyer on the case. Pedram's cellmates testify he confessed falsely and under pressure. In Revolutionary Courts these false confessions serve as the basis of death sentences," she added. According to Mizan, Madani was accused of transmitting classified information and holding meetings with Mossad officers abroad, including in Brussels. The judiciary said he had travelled to "the occupied territories" -- the term used by Iranian officials to describe Israel -- prior to his arrest in 2020-2021. He was also convicted of acquiring "illicit wealth" by receiving euros and bitcoin from Israel. In April, Iran executed Mohsen Langarneshin for allegedly aiding Mossad in the 2022 killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards colonel in Tehran. Rights groups including IHR have said Langarneshin was executed after an unfair trial and a confession extracted under torture. According to IHR, there have been at least 478 executions in Iran this year alone, including more than 60 hangings in the last 10 days.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Iran hangs man convicted of Israel spying, activists slam 'unfair' trial
Iran on Wednesday executed a man convicted of spying for Israel, in defiance of pleas from his family and activists for his life to be spared after what they described as an unfair trial. Pedram Madani, 41, was hanged in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran after earlier this week being transferred from Evin prison in the capital where he had been held following his arrest in 2019. He is the second man to be executed by Iran on charges of spying for Israel within two months, amid a surge in executions on all charges which activists say is aimed at instilling fear in the population. The hanging comes against the background of a new period of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which the Islamic republic does not recognise, over the Iranian nuclear programme. The judiciary's Mizan Online website said Madani had been "spying in favour of the Zionist regime", using the term employed by institutions in the Islamic republic to denote Israel. "Following the complete process of criminal procedure and the final confirmation and upholding of the verdict by the Supreme Court, he was brought to justice and executed," it said. - 'Unfair process' - But activists and his family said that the case against him was deeply flawed and he had notably been denied the right to a lawyer of his choosing during the legal process. Madani "was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court without access to a lawyer of his choice, through an unfair and non-transparent process orchestrated by security agencies," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) which tracks the death penalty in Iran, told AFP. "The Islamic Republic's goal in executing Pedram Madani and others who are hanged daily is solely to instill fear within society and to conceal the regime's widespread corruption and systemic failures." The Dadban legal monitor said in a statement on social media that in such a trial before a Revolutionary Court the defendant is denied the possibility of defending himself and the judge also has "no option" of rejecting the case. "It is more than a legal accusation -- it is a charge used as a tool to issue and carry out the death penalty," it said. In a video posted on Tuesday by IHR and other groups warning of the risk of the imminent execution, his mother described Madani as a "man who loves his country and loves his family." "My son's case is full of flaws and his death sentence must be revoked," she said. - 'False confessions' - There had on the eve of the execution been numerous pleas from Iranian campaigners for his life to be spared, including from Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi, currently on temporary release from serving her own prison sentence. "The Islamic republic uses the death penalty as a tool to instill fear and intensify repression against the people," she said in a video statement. "There was not even a chosen lawyer on the case. Pedram's cellmates testify he confessed falsely and under pressure. In Revolutionary Courts these false confessions serve as the basis of death sentences," she added. According to Mizan, Madani was accused of transmitting classified information and holding meetings with Mossad officers abroad, including in Brussels. The judiciary said he had travelled to "the occupied territories" -- the term used by Iranian officials to describe Israel -- prior to his arrest in 2020–2021. He was also convicted of acquiring "illicit wealth" by receiving euros and bitcoin from Israel. In April, Iran executed Mohsen Langarneshin for allegedly aiding Mossad in the 2022 killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards colonel in Tehran. Rights groups including IHR have said Langarneshin was executed after an unfair trial and a confession extracted under torture. According to IHR, there have been at least 478 executions in Iran this year alone, including more than 60 hangings in the last 10 days. sjw/as/ser
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Iran Hangs Man Convicted Of Israel Spying, Activists Slam 'Unfair' Trial
Iran on Wednesday executed a man convicted of spying for Israel, in defiance of pleas from his family and activists for his life to be spared after what they described as an unfair trial. Pedram Madani, 41, was hanged in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran after earlier this week being transferred from Evin prison in the capital where he had been held following his arrest in 2019. He is the second man to be executed by Iran on charges of spying for Israel within two months, amid a surge in executions on all charges which activists say is aimed at instilling fear in the population. The hanging comes against the background of a new period of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which the Islamic republic does not recognise, over the Iranian nuclear programme. The judiciary's Mizan Online website said Madani had been "spying in favour of the Zionist regime", using the term employed by institutions in the Islamic republic to denote Israel. "Following the complete process of criminal procedure and the final confirmation and upholding of the verdict by the Supreme Court, he was brought to justice and executed," it said. But activists and his family said that the case against him was deeply flawed and he had notably been denied the right to a lawyer of his choosing during the legal process. Madani "was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court without access to a lawyer of his choice, through an unfair and non-transparent process orchestrated by security agencies," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) which tracks the death penalty in Iran, told AFP. "The Islamic Republic's goal in executing Pedram Madani and others who are hanged daily is solely to instill fear within society and to conceal the regime's widespread corruption and systemic failures." The Dadban legal monitor said in a statement on social media that in such a trial before a Revolutionary Court the defendant is denied the possibility of defending himself and the judge also has "no option" of rejecting the case. "It is more than a legal accusation -- it is a charge used as a tool to issue and carry out the death penalty," it said. In a video posted on Tuesday by IHR and other groups warning of the risk of the imminent execution, his mother described Madani as a "man who loves his country and loves his family." "My son's case is full of flaws and his death sentence must be revoked," she said. There had on the eve of the execution been numerous pleas from Iranian campaigners for his life to be spared, including from Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi, currently on temporary release from serving her own prison sentence. "The Islamic republic uses the death penalty as a tool to instill fear and intensify repression against the people," she said in a video statement. "There was not even a chosen lawyer on the case. Pedram's cellmates testify he confessed falsely and under pressure. In Revolutionary Courts these false confessions serve as the basis of death sentences," she added. According to Mizan, Madani was accused of transmitting classified information and holding meetings with Mossad officers abroad, including in Brussels. The judiciary said he had travelled to "the occupied territories" -- the term used by Iranian officials to describe Israel -- prior to his arrest in 2020-2021. He was also convicted of acquiring "illicit wealth" by receiving euros and bitcoin from Israel. In April, Iran executed Mohsen Langarneshin for allegedly aiding Mossad in the 2022 killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards colonel in Tehran. Rights groups including IHR have said Langarneshin was executed after an unfair trial and a confession extracted under torture. According to IHR, there have been at least 478 executions in Iran this year alone, including more than 60 hangings in the last 10 days.
France 24
6 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Iran hangs man convicted of Israel spying, activists slam 'unfair' trial
Pedram Madani, 41, was hanged in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran after earlier this week being transferred from Evin prison in the capital where he had been held following his arrest in 2019. He is the second man to be executed by Iran on charges of spying for Israel within two months, amid a surge in executions on all charges which activists say is aimed at instilling fear in the population. The hanging comes against the background of a new period of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which the Islamic republic does not recognise, over the Iranian nuclear programme. The judiciary's Mizan Online website said Madani had been "spying in favour of the Zionist regime", using the term employed by institutions in the Islamic republic to denote Israel. "Following the complete process of criminal procedure and the final confirmation and upholding of the verdict by the Supreme Court, he was brought to justice and executed," it said. 'Unfair process' But activists and his family said that the case against him was deeply flawed and he had notably been denied the right to a lawyer of his choosing during the legal process. Madani "was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court without access to a lawyer of his choice, through an unfair and non-transparent process orchestrated by security agencies," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) which tracks the death penalty in Iran, told AFP. "The Islamic Republic's goal in executing Pedram Madani and others who are hanged daily is solely to instill fear within society and to conceal the regime's widespread corruption and systemic failures." The Dadban legal monitor said in a statement on social media that in such a trial before a Revolutionary Court the defendant is denied the possibility of defending himself and the judge also has "no option" of rejecting the case. "It is more than a legal accusation -- it is a charge used as a tool to issue and carry out the death penalty," it said. In a video posted on Tuesday by IHR and other groups warning of the risk of the imminent execution, his mother described Madani as a "man who loves his country and loves his family." "My son's case is full of flaws and his death sentence must be revoked," she said. 'False confessions' There had on the eve of the execution been numerous pleas from Iranian campaigners for his life to be spared, including from Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi, currently on temporary release from serving her own prison sentence. "The Islamic republic uses the death penalty as a tool to instill fear and intensify repression against the people," she said in a video statement. "There was not even a chosen lawyer on the case. Pedram's cellmates testify he confessed falsely and under pressure. In Revolutionary Courts these false confessions serve as the basis of death sentences," she added. According to Mizan, Madani was accused of transmitting classified information and holding meetings with Mossad officers abroad, including in Brussels. The judiciary said he had travelled to "the occupied territories" -- the term used by Iranian officials to describe Israel -- prior to his arrest in 2020–2021. He was also convicted of acquiring "illicit wealth" by receiving euros and bitcoin from Israel. In April, Iran executed Mohsen Langarneshin for allegedly aiding Mossad in the 2022 killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards colonel in Tehran. Rights groups including IHR have said Langarneshin was executed after an unfair trial and a confession extracted under torture. According to IHR, there have been at least 478 executions in Iran this year alone, including more than 60 hangings in the last 10 days.
News18
24-05-2025
- Health
- News18
Covid Cases Rise Across India, Most Infections Mild; Deaths Reported In Karnataka, Maharashtra
Last Updated: Kerala leads with over 270 Covid cases in May as Delhi, Andhra, Telangana and Bengaluru report fresh infections amid a slow but steady rise across states. The Union Health Secretary on Saturday reviewed the COVID-19 situation amid a recent uptick in cases reported from some southern states, news agency ANI said citing officials. States including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka have seen a rise in fresh infections. However, most of these cases have been classified as mild and are being managed through home isolation, officials added. The Health Ministry has assured that it remains vigilant and is proactively monitoring the situation through multiple agencies. One case of the emerging NB.1.8.1 Covid variant and four LF.7 cases have been detected in India, INSACOG data shows. These subvariants, currently classified by WHO as Variants Under Monitoring, are linked to rising cases in parts of Asia. India's dominant strain remains JN.1, but health authorities are closely tracking NB.1.8.1 due to its spike protein mutations linked to immune escape. Deaths In Karnataka, Thane Several states have reported a gradual uptick in cases. Delhi logged 23 new infections, Andhra Pradesh reported four, Telangana confirmed one case, and a nine-month-old tested positive in Bengaluru. Kerala alone has reported over 270 cases so far this month. In Maharashtra, a 21-year-old man with severe diabetes died at a Thane hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. The city reported eight new cases on Saturday, with 18 active infections. Cases Mild In Nature Mild infections were reported in Delhi, Noida, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thane, Indore and Rishikesh. Recent deaths in Thane and Bengaluru were linked to severe comorbidities, not the severity of the infection, officials told PTI. 'It is observed that most of these cases are mild and under home care. It may also be mentioned that there have been some media reports regarding increase in COVID-19 cases in Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries in the recent past. It has been ascertained from the respective National IHR focal points that there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to the previously circulating variants," the official was quoted as saying by the news agency. Covid Cases In NCR A 55-year-old woman from Sector 110 in Noida has tested positive for COVID-19, marking the city's first case amid the recent rise in infections across the country, officials told news agency ANI. According to Gautam Buddha Nagar Chief Medical Officer Narendra Kumar, the woman is in home isolation. Her husband and domestic help, who live with her, have tested negative. She had recently travelled by train, the CMO added. First Published:
