By Kayhan Life Staff
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s judiciary executed Ali-Sina Mostafavi, an artist and athlete, at Kerman Prison in southeastern Iran. Mizan, the news agency affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, reported that the execution was carried out at dawn on Oct. 14.
Authorities claimed that Mostafavi was linked to the “monarchist movement” and had sent videos and photos to foreign media outlets during the December and January protests.
Mostafavi was a professional mountaineer who had climbed Mount Everest and several other well-known Himalayan peaks. He was also a musician.
On Oct. 13, human rights activists reported that Mostafavi had been placed in solitary confinement at Shahab Kerman Prison, also known as Kerman Central Prison, in southeastern Iran. They also reported that his family had been summoned for a final visit.
That same day, the office of Prince Reza Pahlavi posted about Mostafavi on X: “Ali-Sina Mostafavi has climbed Mount Everest and then taken to the streets to fight for his country’s freedom. Now he is at imminent risk of execution after being placed in solitary confinement. His family has been summoned for their final visit.”
The post continued: “This young athlete was sentenced to death in a sham court of the Islamic Republic following forced confessions obtained under torture. Be the voice of political prisoners at risk of execution and use all available capacities to save their lives.”
The judiciary charged Mostafavi with “Moharebeh (waging war against God) with intent to create terror and fear, attempted murder, intentional bodily harm by shooting, displaying force with a firearm, manufacturing and possessing explosives, drawing a weapon with intent to kill and frightening people, and contact with hostile media affiliated with the Zionist regime.”
According to the judiciary, Mostafavi attended protests in Kerman, where he took photos and videos and sent them to foreign media outlets. The authorities also alleged that, during the 40-day war with the U.S. and Israel, he “filmed the impact sites of enemy projectiles” and sent the footage abroad.
He was further accused of sending “numerous messages in Persian to Israel’s official account,” declaring his readiness to carry out armed operations in Kerman, and twice attempting unsuccessfully to shoot at police officers on the Kerman–Mahan Road.
Citing the discovery of a “hunting rifle” at his residence and what it described as his “explicit confession,” the judiciary said it had sentenced him to death. It added that Iran’s Supreme Court had rejected his appeal and upheld the sentence.
In recent days, coinciding with the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Iran has stepped up executions of political prisoners and people detained during the protests.
In a statement published on Oct. 13, Amnesty International said Iran was using the death penalty as a tool to “raise the cost of protest… and intimidate” people.
Amnesty said that between Sept. 30 and Oct. 5, Iran executed five people in connection with the protests following unfair trials and the use of torture. They were Ali Hemmati Sistani, Alireza Raisi, Alireza Sepahi, Majid Nikandish, and Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi.
Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said Iran uses capital punishment to spread terror, silence dissent, and prevent further widespread uprisings. She cited the denial of access to lawyers, the failure to investigate allegations of torture, forced televised confessions, and unfair trials. She called for diplomatic pressure to halt impending executions.
Amnesty also urged the UN Security Council to refer Iran’s human rights situation to the International Criminal Court and called for the UN General Assembly to establish an international judicial mechanism.
