Rights advocates warn of 1988-style mass executions in post-war Iran

Crowds chanted “Shameless, shameless” after the crackdown, according to footage sent to Iran International.

Residents rallied outside the Sabzevar governorate, denouncing outages that have paralyzed daily life amid extreme heat. Videos show men and women shouting, “If we don’t get our rights, we won’t leave,” along with “Only the streets will give us our rights” and “Water, electricity, life—our absolute rights.”

Officials have blamed the crisis on “unprecedented drought.” Iran is experiencing its second-driest year in five decades, with rainfall down 43% from last year. Major dams, particularly those supplying Tehran, are at critically low levels.

In Tehran, residents in districts including Pounak, Amirabad, and Pardis shouted “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” from their windows during extended outages. In Sadra, near Shiraz, demonstrators echoed the same chants late Tuesday.

In an unusual move, Tehran’s Water Company announced plans to distribute plastic-bagged water—then withdrew the statement hours later without explanation.

Government data shows 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces are under water stress, affecting cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Isfahan.

On Wednesday, amid rising public anger, authorities declared a holiday in 23 provinces, citing “heat and energy management.” Other regions cut working hours to mornings only.

Years of sanctions, aging infrastructure, and mismanagement have strained Iran’s energy systems, with summer blackouts a recurring pattern.

But conditions appear to have worsened following last month’s 12-day war with Israel. Iranians report more frequent and severe outages on the back of a surge in use as more people were forced to stay at home amid the government shutdowns.

Hardline Tehran MP Amirhossein Sabeti warned Wednesday that without major water savings, shutdowns may extend through summer, potentially closing the capital for up to four days a week.

“If necessary, every week may be off from Tuesday or Wednesday [until Saturday],” he said, suggesting the goal is to drive residents out of the city to cut demand.

The IRGC-linked Moj News acknowledged the toll of the crisis, warning that shortages are damaging mental health, fraying family life, and fueling tensions between communities.

The outlet said growing competition for access to water is already triggering local disputes, and without urgent management, broader social unrest could follow.

“In our law, anyone who cooperates with a hostile state during wartime must be arrested and prosecuted,” Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said in an interview with state TV.

“Some of these individuals face severe punishments, including the death penalty, while others may receive lighter sentences,” he added.

The country's chief justice added that many of those detained were released shortly after investigations found no evidence of espionage or cooperation with Israel. Others were released on bail despite lingering suspicions.

Some detainees have been accused of direct ties to Israel and are being interrogated to identify potential co-conspirators, Ejei said.

Ejei said the judiciary has ordered expedited handling of these cases under wartime legal procedures. Indictments have been issued for some cases and trial dates set, while others are still under investigation.

Iran’s parliament has passed an emergency bill to increase penalties for espionage and collaboration with “hostile states.”

Last month, UN experts which included UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mai Sato, urged Iran to stop what they described as "post-ceasefire crackdown."

The experts cited the arrests of hundreds of people, including journalists, human rights defenders, social media users, foreign nationals — particularly Afghans — and members of ethnic and religious minorities such as Baha’is, Kurds, Baluchis and Ahwazi Arabs.

The draft legislation, developed with the judiciary’s input and approved by the cabinet late in June, includes 22 articles aimed at combating what officials call the spread of “fake news” in digital spaces.

The proposal would introduce prison sentences, fines, and bans on media activity for users found guilty under the new provisions.

According to the bill, penalties will be intensified if the content is shared by people with public influence — such as celebrities, experts, government employees, or those with significant online followings.

The proposed law also criminalizes the use of fake accounts, bots, or automated systems to publish content, and calls for increased penalties for repeated offenses or posts made during crises or wartime that authorities deem threatening to national security.

The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance would be tasked with operating a national platform to receive public reports on digital content and issue warnings. It would also be responsible for forwarding relevant cases to the judiciary for potential prosecution.

In the bill’s preamble, the government cited the rapid spread of online content, the rise of citizen journalism, and the psychological and societal risks posed by misinformation — including alleged damage to public trust, government credibility, and national cohesion.

The bill is now under urgent review in parliamentary committees, following its formal submission on July 20 with signatures from President Pezeshkian and Justice Minister Amin-Hossein Rahimi.

The legislative push comes amid growing concern over a wave of arrests and prosecutions following last month’s ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

Earlier this month, United Nations experts urged Iranian authorities to halt what they described as a post-war crackdown, marked by executions, arbitrary detentions, and online censorship.

Human rights group HRANA reported that at least 823 Iranians have been charged with political or security-related offenses since the war began, with 286 detained for online activities, including posts about the conflict with Israel.

The most recent case involves Mahsa Shafiee, the 24-year-old sister of slain protester Parsa Shafiee, who was arrested by intelligence agents at her home in Yasuj, southwestern Iran, on Thursday, according to a source who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals.

Eighteen-year-old Parsa was killed in November 2022, during the nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Zhina Amini over an alleged hijab law violation in September that year, which triggered the nationwide uprising known as the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement.

In addition to Shafiee's detention, her father was also summoned by the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence on the same day, according to former political prisoner and rights activist Foad Choobin.

“The Shafiee family is currently under severe pressure from security institutions and has been threatened not to share information about Mahsa’s situation,” he wrote on X Sunday, adding that Mahsa’s whereabouts are currently unknown.

Last Monday, Ehsan Khazaei, the brother of slain protester Erfan Khazaei, and his wife Neda Karegar were arrested in Tehran. According to Norway-based rights group Hengaw, more than 60 security agents stormed their residence, beat family members, and confiscated mobile phones. US-based rights group HRANA reported that the couple was later released on bail.

On June 23, Suleiman Qader Galwan, the brother of slain protester Abdulsalam Qader Galwan, was arrested in Oshnavieh, a city in West Azarbaijan province, following a raid by intelligence agents.

Ali Mohammadi, the father of slain protestor Shahriyar Mohammadi, was arrested on June 21 in Bukan, also in West Azarbaijan province, his daughter Asrin told Iran International.

Asrin said that her father was beaten during interrogation and lost consciousness, after which he was briefly hospitalized. Asrin added that her father is being denied independent legal representation.

On June 19, security forces also arrested Majid Naderkhani, whose son Matin was detained during the 2022 protests and shot dead months after release from prison.

In Yasuj, Feyzollah Azarnosh, the father of 18-year-old slain protester Pedram Azarnoosh, was arrested on June 18 and transferred to Yasuj Central Prison following questioning, according to a report by Hengaw.

That same day in Bukan, Karim Qaderpour, the father of protest victim Awat Qaderpour, was detained and taken to an undisclosed location.

Earlier this month, United Nations experts urged Iranian authorities to end a post-ceasefire crackdown marked by executions, mass arrests, and hate speech, warning that the country risks repeating past cycles of repression.

Last month, HRANA reported that 823 Iranian citizens were on political or security-related charges since the outbreak of the war.

According to the report, 286 people were detained for their online activities, including sharing content about Israel’s attack on Iran.

“This cycle, this repeating pattern – whose first victims are always children – will only end with the fall of the Islamic Republic,” Ebadi wrote on social media on Sunday, calling the incident “a continuation of state crimes.”

The victims, including Raha Sheikhi, were killed on July 16 when armed forces opened fire on a family vehicle. Authorities have yet to provide public evidence or detailed explanation.

Accusing the government of weaponizing security to suppress its own people after military setbacks abroad, Ebadi likened the killings to the death ofnine-year-old Kian Pirfalak, who was killed during the 2022 anti-government protests when forces opened fire on his family’s car in Izeh, Khuzestan province.

“The regime fears transparency, avoids accountability, and answers with bullets,” she wrote, warning that Iran is being turned into a military zone under the guise of national security.

Public anger is rising in Iran after security forces opened fire on two cars near a military base in Khomein, killing four members of a family — including three-year-old Raha Sheikhi.

Local officials confirmed the deaths of Mohammad-Hossein Sheikhi, his wife Mahboubeh, their daughter Raha, and Farzaneh Heidari, a relative. Authorities say the vehicles were deemed "suspicious," and a judicial probe is underway.

The shooters' affiliation has not been officially disclosed, but social media accounts linked to the family allege that Basij forces were responsible.