Hamed Baniamerian (left), whose brother Vahid (right) was recently executed in Iran, spoke to The Sunday Times about the impact of his death on their family. Vahid, a 33-year-old electrical engineer, was executed at Ghezel Hesar prison near Tehran.
“I would have told him I love him, that I will miss him, that I didn’t want him to go,” Hamed said. “I always felt a sense of responsibility for my little brother. This is devastating for me.”
For Iran, execution is not merely a legal punishment; it is a primary language through which the state communicates with its people—one of intimidation, aimed at crushing a nation seeking freedom. For the regime, executions function like oxygen for a system facing the threat of popular uprising and internal dissent.
Amid ongoing war, nine political prisoners have reportedly been executed. Among them were six members of the MEK/PMOI, alongside three young protesters from the January 2026 uprising, including two teenagers. These executions appear to exploit wartime conditions and a near-total internet blackout to suppress dissent, control information, and silence the voices of the Iranian people.
Maryam Akbari Monfared, one of Iran’s longest-serving female political prisoners, was released on April 8, 2026, after nearly 17 years in prison without a single day of furlough. Her release marks a moment of hope for many who campaigned for her freedom. Despite suffering from multiple serious health conditions, authorities repeatedly denied her access to medical treatment outside prison.
Born on December 14, 1975, and a mother of three daughters, Maryam was arrested following the 2009 uprising. On December 29, 2009, she was summoned to Evin Prison “to provide explanations” and never returned home. In June 2010, she was sentenced to 15 years on charges of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran—an allegation she has consistently denied.
A sweeping wave of anti-regime protests has erupted across Iranian universities, as students at some of the country’s most prominent academic institutions boycotted classes and turned their campuses into centres of open resistance against the ruling theocracy.
Demonstrations spread through several major universities in Tehran. Protests also reached Isfahan University of Technology and Ferdowsi and Sajjad universities in Mashhad. Students voiced unequivocal opposition to authoritarian rule, chanting slogans such as “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator.”
On 29 January 2026, the European Union formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, as a terrorist organisation after a unanimous decision by all 27 member states at the Foreign Affairs Council. The move places the IRGC on the EU terrorist list alongside ISIL and Al Qaida, signalling that Europe views the Guard not as a conventional state body, but as a driver of repression and transnational violence.
To save the life of refuges, we have to echo our voices in streets to raise awareness and make our voices be heard.
Clearly asylum seekers and political refugees are in huge need of specialist legal consultants and advisers, since ultimately they seek protection from persecution. Our association is trying its utmost to meet such enormous requirements by using a highly efficient managements system – i.e. In the past five years we were involved in 17 high profile cases and with the help of our donors and volunteers we won them all.
We endeavour to cover the cost of our publication activates from publishing our weekly news bulletin in hard copy, books, articles, magazines, news brief and also maintaining our website and news letters on daily bases.
Planning and organizing dynamic conferences and events in order to raise public awareness about the barbarity of Islamic fundamentalism regime in Iran. We invite distinguished Lords & MPs, lawyers, intellectuals, leading philanthropists and prominent human rights activist in order to further our cause in our struggle for peace and democracy in Iran.
