Omid Behzad

Omid Behzad was recently executed in Iran on charges of espionage and cooperation with Israel. This execution, alongside that of Pouria Safvat, was reported by Iranian state media. The news comes amidst a broader concern raised by the UN rights chief regarding a rise in executions in Iran since March. The UN official expressed alarm at the persistent lack of fair trial and due process guarantees, noting that confessions are allegedly obtained under torture and that some executions occur shortly after arrest. The execution of Behzad and Safvat highlights the ongoing human rights concerns in Iran, particularly regarding capital punishment and the fairness of judicial proceedings in cases involving national security or alleged foreign collaboration.