Majid Kazemi

Majid Kazemi Sheikh-Shabani was an Iranian political prisoner who was executed on May 19, 2023, despite widespread appeals from human rights organizations and public figures for a suspension of his sentence. He was one of three individuals convicted in connection with the Khaneh Esfahan case, accused of opening fire and causing the deaths of two Basij members and a Special Unit colonel during protests in Isfahan. He was charged with moharebeh (waging war against God) and sentenced to death following a trial widely condemned as unfair.

Arrest and Allegations
Kazemi was arrested on November 21, 2022, five days after the Khaneh Esfahan incident, at his brother Hossein’s home. Reports indicate he was beaten by security forces during his arrest. In an audio recording from prison, dated January 13, 2023, Kazemi stated that he was subjected to torture and forced to confess under duress.

Two other defendants in the case, Saeed Yaghoubi and Saleh Mirhashmi Baltaghi, were also sentenced to death and executed alongside Kazemi. Reports indicate that all three were denied access to legal representation of their choice and that their trial was marked by serious procedural violations.

Before Execution
The Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran upheld the death sentences of Kazemi, Yaghoubi, and Mirhashmi. Ahead of their execution, the prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in Dastgerd Prison, a common practice before carrying out death sentences.

State media broadcast video confessions of the three men, a move human rights groups condemned as part of a broader pattern of forced confessions aired before executions in Iran.

Protests Against the Death Sentence
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling and the transfer of the convicted men to solitary confinement, family members and protesters gathered outside Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, calling for a halt to the executions.

On May 14, 2023, Mohammad Hashemi, a cousin of Majid Kazemi, tweeted about the imminent execution. In response, a group of Isfahan residents assembled outside the prison, blocking roads and chanting slogans against the death sentences.

A group of legal experts and attorneys wrote to Iran’s judiciary and Supreme Court, citing irregularities in the trial and calling for the executions to be halted. Prominent Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti urged the United Nations and its Human Rights Council to intervene via Instagram.

After the Execution
Arrests and Pressure on Families
Following the execution of the three men on the morning of May 19, 2023, Iranian authorities intensified pressure on their families. Two of Kazemi’s brothers were beaten and arrested, while his sister was detained while seeking information about them. The mother of Saleh Mirhashmi also stated that security forces had handcuffed her husband and prevented the family from holding a memorial service.

Kazemi’s sister was released on May 22, 2023, but his two brothers remain imprisoned.

Grave Desecration
When Kazemi’s family visited his grave, they found it had been burned. Authorities had reportedly warned them not to hold a memorial for his birthday. The desecration of the grave was seen as an attempt to erase his memory and intimidate his family.