Iran’s Execution Spree: Father of Two Sentenced to Death After Nine Months in Solitary
Iran has transferred Babak Shahbazi, accused of spying for Israel, to a prison known for executions, following a death sentence based on questionable charges and coerced confessions. The move is part of a broader crackdown, with recent executions and mass arrests signaling heightened tensions with Israel.
Iran escalated its crackdown on alleged espionage by transferring Babak Shahbazi, a 44-year-old father of two, to Ghezelhesar Prison, a facility notorious for executing death row inmates in Tehran and Alborz provinces. Shahbazi, a former heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technician at data centers, including Iran’s telecommunications company, was arrested in January 2024. He endured over nine months of solitary confinement in Evin Prison and safe houses, where he faced severe torture to extract confessions, according to human rights reports.
On May 4, 2025, Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, known as the “Death Judge,” sentenced Shahbazi to death on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and “efsad-fil-arz” (corruption on earth). His appeal to Iran’s Supreme Court was dismissed within 24 hours. Among the charges, authorities cited a letter Shahbazi allegedly wrote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressing willingness to join Ukrainian forces against Russia, claiming Israel trained him to use Microsoft Word for this purpose. Additional accusations, deemed baseless by human rights groups, included involvement in smuggling and a bombing, as well as a bizarre claim targeting his teenage daughter for “leading protests in 2009” when she was only three years old.
“Babak was denied access to a lawyer for months after arrest & subjected him to torture, including prolonged solitary confinement & threats to harm his family, to extract ‘confessions,’” reported Amnesty International on social media. Shahbazi’s family-hired lawyer was barred from accessing his case file, highlighting the lack of due process. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights noted the absence of credible evidence supporting the charges.
The transfer follows Iran’s execution of nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi on August 6, 2025, for alleged espionage, part of a surge in at least eight such executions this year. The intensified crackdown, with over 700 arrests since June 2025, reflects Iran’s heightened tensions with Israel, particularly after June’s 12-day war targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.