New scaffold in Isfahan fuels fears of imminent protester executions

Key Points:

• Since January protests, Iran has accelerated executions of political prisoners, with rights groups estimating around 100 death sentences and over 70 awaiting execution in Isfahan's Dastgerd Prison; many trials lacked fair legal representation.
• Executions include protesters and alleged opposition members, with recent cases like 19-year-old Erfan Esfandiyari and Afghan national Gol Mohammad Mohammadi drawing international condemnation and highlighting secretive burial practices and family intimidation.
• The UN Human Rights Council has called for an immediate halt to executions amid fears of further imminent hangings, while rights advocates criticize insufficient international action despite public denunciations, including from former US President Trump.
• Iranian prisoners have begun protesting executions internally, exemplified by a hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison, reflecting ongoing domestic resistance despite harsh crackdowns and the regime’s use of executions to intimidate the population.
• The situation is compounded by diplomatic tensions, such as the recent detention and abuse of two French diplomats in Tehran, escalating strains between Iran and Western countries over human rights abuses and nuclear program disputes.