In a controversial move, Iran has carried out the execution of four prisoners in Urmia province, sparking international condemnation. The executed individuals, Wafa Hanara, Aram Omeri, Rehman Parhazo, and Naseem Namazi, were accused of espionage activities for Israel and were put to death at Urmia Central Prison.

The execution, reported by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights on Thursday, comes in the wake of the death of General Razi Mousavi in an Israeli airstrike near Damascus. Iranian authorities claim that the executed prisoners were Israeli spies and argue that this act serves as a response to the alleged involvement of the deceased general's death.

The Kurdish inmates had previously been sentenced to capital punishment by the Urmia Revolutionary Court, with the charges of espionage activities on behalf of Israel. The execution has raised concerns about due process and human rights violations, with human rights organizations such as Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) criticizing Iran's execution record.

In 2022 alone, Iran executed at least 582 individuals, according to reports from IHR and ECPM, solidifying its position as the second-highest executing country globally, following China. Many of these cases involved Kurds facing charges such as "corruption on Earth" and espionage for Western nations, including the United States and Israel.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with calls for Iran to adhere to international human rights standards and ensure fair trials for those accused of such serious offenses. The executions have prompted renewed discussions on the human rights situation in Iran and the use of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving charges of espionage.