Iran hanged Babak Shahbazi on Wednesday on charges of spying for Israel, although activists allege that he was ‘tortured’ into making a false confession. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency said he had been charged with ‘gathering and selling sensitive information on Iranian data centres and security facilities to Israeli handlers’.
Human rights organizations reject these allegations. Iran Human Rights reports that Shahbazi was arrested after penning a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky volunteering to assist in the war against Russia. Iran provides drones to Russia, which is used by Moscow to attack Ukraine.
Activists added, “Babak’s message to President Zelensky expressing readiness to assist the war against Russia was used as proof of espionage for Israel, who they said had taught him how to use Microsoft Word.” They also labeled Shahbazi a volunteer who had wished to fight for Ukraine. Iran has failed to comment on these claims.
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The authorities did not specify the mode of execution, but prisoners who are sentenced to death are usually executed by hanging. Eight individuals have been executed by Iran for spying since the 12-day war with Israel in June, sparking concerns about additional executions. The war was escalated when Israeli air strikes killed nearly 1,100 individuals, including a number of Iranian generals, causing Iranian missile attacks against Israel.
This implementation is consistent with a trend of similar cases. Iran executed three men in June accused of collaborating with the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. The judiciary stated they were found guilty of collaborating with Mossad and smuggling equipment for an assassination plot.
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Iran Human Rights says around 300 individuals alleged to be spies have been killed in the past few months. These include Majid Mosayebi, accused of sending ‘sensitive information’ to Mossad and killed on June 22.
They were announced shortly after a former US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, days after weeks of lethal attacks and increased regional tensions.
