On 6 August 2024, Reza Rasaei, an Iranian Kurdish musician and singer, was executed following a trial marked by allegations of torture and coerced confessions. Reza was convicted of killing an intelligence commander during nationwide protests in 2022, which were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for an alleged breach of Iran’s strict dress code for women. He faced charges of “war against God” for the assassination – an accusation which Rasaei’s relatives have denied.
Rasaei was subjected to extreme torture in order to obtain a false confession and unable to recognize his family or defend himself at trial. He was a member of the Yarsanis, a religious minority in Iran facing systematic discrimination. The execution has drawn international condemnation and highlights ongoing human rights abuses in Iran. According to Amnesty International, in 2024 alone the Iranian regime has carried out more than 274 executions. The number of executions in Iran reached at least 853 in 2023.
