Building a Free Iran: Why Ending the Death Penalty is Our Top Priority

For decades, the shadow of executions has hung over Iran. Thousands of lives—including dissidents, young protesters, and even individuals who were juveniles at the time of their alleged offenses—have been cut short under a brutal judicial system. Behind every statistic is a grieving family: mothers who spend sleepless nights waiting outside prison walls, wives driven to extreme desperation to cover blood money, and children who carry the lifelong trauma of public executions.

The ruling regime relies heavily on capital punishment, torture, and harsh penal codes to maintain its grip on power. Under the current system, basic political dissent and peaceful protest are frequently criminalized as "waging war against God" (mohareb), stripping citizens of their right to due process and fair legal representation. By creating an atmosphere of fear, the regime attempts to silence legitimate public outcry against corruption, economic hardship, and systemic oppression.


International human rights bodies continue to raise alarms regarding Iran’s heavy use of the death penalty—particularly for juvenile offenders and non-violent charges—which directly violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Yet, the regime continues to carry out executions in secret, refusing to publish complete, transparent records of those on death row.


A Vision for a Democratic Future

The struggle of the Iranian people is not driven by revenge, but by a deep commitment to human rights, justice, and fundamental freedoms. Resistance against tyranny is an internationally recognized, inalienable right of any nation seeking to overturn systemic oppression.

The path forward requires a complete departure from the current system of state-sanctioned violence. A democratic vision for the future of Iran rests on clear, unyielding commitments:

Abolition of the Death Penalty: Eradicating capital punishment entirely, ensuring that no young person spends their youth awaiting execution on death row.

Prohibition of Torture: Putting an absolute end to physical and psychological torture, amputations, and cruel punishment.

An Independent Judiciary: Replacing state violence with a dynamic, transparent judicial system based on the presumption of innocence, fair access to legal defense, and protection for all victims of abuse.

Equality Under the Law: Guaranteeing equal rights for every citizen regardless of gender, political belief, or religious faith, and ensuring complete respect for individual privacy and liberty.


Compassion over Retribution: Transitioning from punitive, medieval legal codes toward laws founded on forgiveness, reconciliation, and fundamental human dignity.


A society built on intimidation and fear cannot endure forever. The Iranian people continue to persevere toward an order defined by democracy, equality, and genuine security—so that future generations can live in peace, free from the threat of gallows and arbitrary state power.

https://www.maryam-rajavi.com/en/no-to-death-penalty-in-iran/

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