Iran executed a man, Babak Shahbazi, on Wednesday, accusing him of spying for Israel, a claim fiercely disputed by human rights activists who allege he was tortured into a false confession. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported that Shahbazi was convicted of gathering and selling sensitive information about Iranian data centers and security installations to Israeli handlers. However, activists assert that Shahbazi’s only “crime” was writing a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offering support in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.

Iran Human Rights, a prominent activist group, had previously warned that Shahbazi faced imminent execution. They claim his letter to Zelenskyy was misconstrued as evidence of espionage, with Iranian authorities alleging that Israel trained him to use Microsoft Word for illicit purposes—a claim the group dismissed as absurd. Iran has not addressed these accusations, and details about the execution method were not disclosed, though hanging is typically used for condemned prisoners in the country.

The execution comes amid heightened tensions following a 12-day air war between Iran and Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,100 deaths, including several Iranian military commanders. Iran responded with missile barrages targeting Israel. Since the conflict, Iran has executed eight individuals on espionage charges, raising alarms among activists about a potential wave of state-sanctioned killings.

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Shahbazi’s case has sparked international outrage, with human rights organizations condemning Iran’s judicial process and its use of torture to extract confessions. Activists argue that Shahbazi was targeted for expressing solidarity with Ukraine, a nation Iran has indirectly opposed by supplying Russia with drones used in attacks. The lack of transparency in Iran’s legal proceedings and the swift execution of Shahbazi have intensified calls for global scrutiny of Iran’s human rights record.

As fears grow over further executions, Iran Human Rights and other groups are urging international intervention to pressure Iran into halting its aggressive judicial campaign. The case underscores the broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and their respective allies, with Shahbazi’s execution serving as a grim reminder of the human cost of these conflicts.

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