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Man Executed in Iran for Alleged Espionage After Offering Support to Ukraine in War With Russia
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Iran executed Babak Shahbazi, accusing him of spying for Israel. Human rights organizations argue, however, that the real reason behind his arrest and death sentence was a letter he wrote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering assistance in the war against Russia.
This was reported by Al Jazeera on September 17.
Earlier, officials confirmed an execution had taken place without disclosing the victim’s identity. Shahbazi was later named as the ninth person executed since the end of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.
Al Jazeera cited the state media outlet Mizan, which identified the executed man as Babak Shahbazi—a 44-year-old father of two who was arrested on January 6, 2024. According to the authorities, he collected and sold confidential information on Iranian data centers and security sites to Israel.
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Human rights defenders reject this version of events. The organization Iran Human Rights stated that Shahbazi was held in solitary confinement for seven months and subjected to psychological pressure, including threats to arrest his 16-year-old daughter, in order to extract a forced confession on camera.
Activists emphasize that the espionage charges were fabricated. They insist the true reason for the death sentence was Shahbazi’s letter to Zelenskyy, in which he expressed readiness to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia.
Rights groups say Shahbazi was tortured until he provided a false admission of guilt. His execution was then publicly framed as punishment for collaboration with Israel. State media even went as far as claiming that Israeli handlers had taught him how to use Microsoft Word.
Previously, it was reported that Israel will deliver a new humanitarian aid package to Ukraine, supplying advanced water systems designed to support hundreds of thousands of civilians in regions where Russian attacks have destroyed critical infrastructure.
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