Execution of Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh

Iran’s Judiciary Media Center announced the execution of political prisoner Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, who had been accused of spying for Israel. According to the statement, the execution was carried out in the early hours of the morning.

The judiciary claims that Mr. Mahdavi Shayesteh, son of Ahmad, was hanged for allegedly engaging in “espionage and intelligence cooperation with the Israeli regime.” Authorities further alleged that he was “the head of a Mossad-linked cyber team,” responsible for tasks such as relaying instructions from Mossad officers, leading online operations, and even coordinating on-the-ground activities.

His death sentence had been upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. He had been held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, following a death sentence issued by the notorious Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. The main charge against him was “collaboration with a hostile government.”

However, sources close to Mr. Mahdavi Shayesteh’s family had previously stated that the charges lacked credible evidence and that he had been forced to confess under extreme pressure. His arrest and trial were reportedly marred by due process violations, including denial of access to a lawyer of his choosing—raising serious doubts about the fairness of the proceedings and the legitimacy of the conviction.