[Today’s Prayer] Iran carries out consecutive executions of anti-government protesters… tightening internal control during wartime

Iran is strengthening its internal crackdown by consecutively carrying out executions of individuals related to anti-government protests amid its war with the United States and Israel.

According to Reuters and dpa on the 5th (local time), Mizan News, a media outlet affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, reported that Mohammad Amin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast—who were charged with working for Israel and the United States during anti-government protests last January—have been executed. Mizan News described them as “rioters” who attempted large-scale killings by attacking military facilities and trying to access weapons depots, adding that they were hanged after their sentences were finalized by the Supreme Court.

Last week as well, Iran continued carrying out executions of protest-related individuals, including the execution of an 18-year-old man, Amirhossein Hatami, who had been sentenced to death for participating in anti-government protests.

Human rights organization Amnesty International recently reported that 11 anti-government protest participants are at imminent risk of execution, noting that they were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during detention and were convicted after unfair trials based on forced confessions.

(omitted)

Since the outbreak of war following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in late February, the Iranian government has further intensified its crackdown on anti-government forces.

(omitted)

On the 31st of last month, Iran’s judiciary announced that it would apply a “zero tolerance” policy and impose the death penalty for espionage for hostile countries such as the United States and Israel, terrorism, and destruction of national facilities. Hengaw, a Norway-based Kurdish human rights organization, estimated that at least 160 executions have been carried out in Iran so far this year.

Source: Yonhap News

Break the arm of the wicked; call the evildoer to account for their wickedness until none is found. Defend the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror. (Psalm 10:15, 18)

Lord, we hear that 11 anti-government protest participants are at imminent risk of execution, and that they were tortured and mistreated during detention and convicted through unfair trials based on forced confessions.

Even in the midst of war, the Iranian Islamic regime is strengthening its crackdown on anti-government forces to maintain stability, declaring a “zero tolerance” policy and seeking the death penalty. Lord, by Your hand, break this Iranian Islamic regime. Break the evil hearts of the rulers and authorities who afflict the Iranian people, until no more evil can be found.

The land of Iran needs Your rule. Have mercy on the anti-government protest participants who have not received fair trials and now face guilty verdicts and the threat of execution. Let them receive just judgments, and let unjust trials and wrongful death sentences never take place again. May Jesus come and reign as King and ruler over this land. Govern the people of Iran with only the love and truth of Jesus.

In this movement to find and punish those who oppose the Islamic regime, we ask that You intervene in Iran. Though the situation is difficult, let the Iranian church boldly proclaim the gospel even more and become a church that shows the love of the cross of Jesus to the suffering Iranian people.

Let many souls in Iran come to Jesus. Raise up disciples throughout Iran who follow only Jesus with a faith that does not fear any judgment of the world. And through a people who do not fear death, let all nations come to the Lord.