According to the human rights organization AHRAZ, Gholamreza Khani Shakarab, an Azerbaijani Turkic political prisoner from Ardabil, was executed in the early hours of May 26, 2026, without being granted a final meeting with his family.

Iran’s judiciary media confirmed the execution, accusing him of “collaboration with Mossad and anti-security activities.”

Reports indicate that Mr. Khani, who had been residing in Turkiye prior to his arrest, was abducted by Iranian security forces during a trip to Iraq and transferred to Iran.

He was held for months in solitary confinement at Evin Prison, where he was subjected to interrogation and torture aimed at extracting forced confessions. Ultimately, in proceedings described as opaque and conducted without access to a lawyer of his own choosing, Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to death on charges of “spying for Israel.” The verdict was later upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court.