Ahwazi Protesters Rally Outside Iranian Embassy in London Against Rising Execution Orders Targeting Ahwazi Activists
London, October 26, 2024
A large protest was held on Saturday in front of the Iranian Embassy in London, organised by the Ahwazi Coordination Committee in the United Kingdom. Protesters gathered to denounce what they called “the imminent threat” of execution orders against four Ahwazi activists detained in Iran. The demonstration included dozens of Ahwazis, members of Arab communities, human rights activists, and representatives from non-Persian minorities, all raising banners condemning the escalating use of executions against minorities in Iran, especially in the Ahwaz region.
Growing Fears for the Lives of Four Ahwazi Detainees
The protest follows recent reports that detainees Adnan Ghabishawi (Al-Moussawi), Mohammad Reza Moghadam, Ali Mojdam, and Moein Khanfari have been moved to an unknown location, raising fears that Iranian authorities are preparing to carry out their death sentences imminently. According to the Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation, these detainees faced unfair trials and were subjected to forced confessions obtained under torture, in clear violation of international civil and political rights standards.
Rising Executions in Iran and Targeting of Minorities
International and human rights reports indicate that Iran is among the world’s top enforcers of capital punishment, with a rising trend of executions directed at political activists and ethnic minorities, including Ahwazis, Kurds, and Baloch people. Ahwazi Arabs, in particular, face political and religious repression, as the Iranian regime views them as a threat to its national identity, using death sentences as a means to intimidate them and suppress any calls for national or human rights.
Iran’s judiciary is known for its high rates of death sentences, many of which are carried out publicly. Iranian authorities have relied on capital punishment not only as a criminal sentence but also as a political tool against dissidents and activists. This trend has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organisations, which are urging an end to abuses and reforms that ensure justice and defendants’ rights.
Goals and Demands of the Protesters
Protesters raised signs calling for an end to executions, condemning the oppressive measures against Ahwazi detainees and political activists. They urged the international community and human rights organisations to act swiftly and apply pressure on the Iranian government to stop executions and ensure fair trials for the detainees. One of the organisers stressed that the international community must bear responsibility in addressing these violations, stating that global silence emboldens Iranian authorities to continue their repressive policies.
Statements from Activists and Calls for Solidarity
Several activists addressed the crowd, emphasising that standing by prisoners is a humanitarian and moral duty and urging governments and rights organisations worldwide to press the Iranian regime to stop these practices. The participants reaffirmed that peaceful action and international support are the only ways to make the detainees’ suffering known globally and to ensure human rights protections in Iran.
The protest concluded with a united call to the international community to take concrete steps to support Ahwazi detainees and halt their executions. The Ahwazi Coordination Committee announced it will continue to organise peaceful events and activities, collaborating with human rights and media organisations, to highlight the increasing violations faced by the Ahwazi people and other minorities in Iran.
