Iran's 500-Execution Spree

Iran's 500-Execution Spree Shatters the Myth Of Hassan Rouhani's Reform

So far this year Iran has carried out more than 500 executions, leading the world in executions per capita. At least 250 of these executions have come after the election of the so-called moderate candidate Hassan Rouhani. Iran has even begun a campaign of execution against prisoners as a form of "retaliation" for acts committed by armed opposition groups. Despite the facade of reform and moderation espoused by Rouhani, the human rights situation in the country remains as bad as ever.

To be sure, Iran does lose face in the international community when it commits such heinous crimes against its own population, yet the continuation of these policies is indicative of the regime's understanding that its greatest threat is not abroad but at home. The theocracy in Iran remains in power purely through the use of terror and repression, and more than anything it fears a repeat of 2009 uprising by a increasingly disillusioned populace. For those striving for real and meaningful change in Iran, the hype surrounding the Rouhani presidency has been both disheartening and frustrating, particularly when so little has changed on the ground in Iran. Rouhani appears to be following the path of former president Khatami in using the rhetoric of change to prolong the life of a dying regime. The people of Iran deserve better than this, and the world needs to know what is happening there. The true character of this regime can be witnessed in its treatment of dissidents and political prisoners, not in the promises made by Rouhani. http://www.policymic.com/articles/70733/iran-s-500-execution-spree-shatters-the-myth-of-hassan-rouhani-s-reform