Esmail Fekri Executed for Alleged Espionage: Iran’s Continued Use of Capital Punishment to Suppress Dissent

On June 16, 2025, Iran carried out the execution of Esmail Fekri—a name that has now become synonymous with the Islamic Republic’s deepening crackdown on dissent. Held for two years under accusations of espionage for Israel’s Mossad, Fekri’s death raises serious alarms about Iran’s judicial system, its disregard for human rights, and the growing weaponization of capital punishment to maintain control through fear.

Fekri’s name was included in a list released just days earlier by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), which identified ten men at risk of execution on similar charges. With his hanging, he becomes the fourth person executed on such allegations in 2025 alone. His story, tragically, reflects not just personal injustice—but a broader strategy of state violence used to quash political dissent and public unrest.

Esmail Fekri’s Case: A Grim Tale of Espionage and Judicial Injustice

The execution of Esmail Fekri in Ghezelhesar Prison—where he had been transferred from Evin Prison earlier this year—has ignited international outrage. According to reports from Iran’s judiciary via Mizan News Agency, Fekri was convicted of “contact with two Mossad officers,” allegedly providing nuclear and naval secrets. However, the details behind his trial paint a disturbing picture.

Ten-minute trial. No lawyer. Confession under duress.
These were the conditions under which Fekri was sentenced to death by Judge Iman Afshari at Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 26. His sentence was quickly upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.

Sources close to the case reveal that during brutal interrogations, Fekri was threatened with the arrest of his family unless he confessed. He later retracted the confession in court, asserting his innocence. But in a judiciary system criticized by human rights organizations for lacking transparency and due process, it was too late.

As Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam stated:

“Esmail Fekri was sentenced in a grossly unfair trial. His execution amounts to an extrajudicial killing.”

A Broader Pattern of Repression Amid Ongoing Conflict

Fekri’s case is not isolated. In the wake of Iran’s increasing internal unrest and its geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Israel, the regime appears to be escalating its use of the death penalty as a tool of intimidation.

Since early 2025, at least four individuals—including Fekri—have been executed for alleged espionage. Another, Mohsen Langarneshin, was executed just weeks ago in a group hanging at the same prison. This surge in politically charged executions correlates with ongoing regional conflict and growing domestic dissent.

Iranian authorities have long been accused of fabricating espionage cases. The infamous case of Maziar Ebrahimi, accused in 2012 of killing nuclear scientists, only to be exonerated in 2014, is a chilling reminder. Despite publicized televised confessions, Ebrahimi’s innocence was eventually proven after inter-agency conflicts surfaced between the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence.

These precedents suggest a systemic abuse of power where individuals become pawns in political messaging. The Iranian government uses these executions to portray strength externally and to instill fear domestically—especially among protest-prone populations.

A Humanitarian Crisis Demanding Global Attention

International law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party, prohibits the use of the death penalty under conditions that deny a fair trial. Fekri’s case violates these basic principles on multiple fronts.

Numerous international human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned Iran’s execution practices, labeling them state-sanctioned violence. According to UN reports, Iran ranks among the highest in the world for executions per capita.

Despite global outcry, the Iranian regime continues these actions largely unchecked, shielded by state secrecy and a lack of internal accountability.

What Lies Ahead for Iran’s Political Prisoners?

As of today, nine more men remain on death row under similar espionage allegations. The danger is immediate and real. Without international pressure and domestic reform, these executions are likely to continue, claiming more lives under the guise of “national security.”

The world must demand transparency, fair trials, and the cessation of politically motivated executions. In an era where authoritarian regimes use fear as governance, the case of Esmail Fekri stands as a grave warning.

We must not let his story fade into silence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Esmail Fekri and why was he executed?
Esmail Fekri was an Iranian citizen executed on June 16, 2025, for allegedly spying for Israel. His trial was widely criticized as unfair, with no legal representation and confessions made under duress.

Where did Esmail Fekri’s execution take place?
Though not officially confirmed, reports indicate he was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison, where he was being held since February 2025.

Was Esmail Fekri given a fair trial?
No. His trial lasted only ten minutes, he had no legal counsel, and his confession was reportedly extracted under threats to his family. His execution has been labeled extrajudicial.

How many people have been executed for spying in Iran in 2025?
As of mid-June 2025, at least four individuals, including Esmail Fekri, have been executed for alleged espionage for Israel.

Are espionage charges in Iran often based on credible evidence?
Human rights organizations argue that many espionage charges in Iran are fabricated and based on forced confessions, lacking credible evidence or due process.

What can the international community do about such executions?
Global human rights groups urge nations and international bodies to hold Iran accountable, advocate for fair trials, and demand a moratorium on capital punishment.

Iran’s execution of Esmail Fekri serves as a grim illustration of the regime’s unrelenting use of fear and capital punishment to suppress resistance. In the face of growing unrest, the Iranian government is escalating violence to deter protests, turning political prisoners into tragic symbols of repression.