"The Islamic Republic's goal in executing Pedram Madani and others who are hanged daily is solely to instill fear within society and to conceal the regime's widespread corruption and systemic failures."

The Dadban legal monitor said in a statement on social media that in such a trial before a Revolutionary Court the defendant is denied the possibility of defending himself and the judge also has "no option" of rejecting the case.

"It is more than a legal accusation -- it is a charge used as a tool to issue and carry out the death penalty," it said.

In a video posted on Tuesday by IHR and other groups warning of the risk of the imminent execution, his mother described Madani as a "man who loves his country and loves his family."

"My son's case is full of flaws and his death sentence must be revoked," she said.

False confessions

There had on the eve of the execution been numerous pleas from Iranian campaigners for his life to be spared, including from Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi, currently on temporary release from serving her own prison sentence.

"The Islamic republic uses the death penalty as a tool to instill fear and intensify repression against the people," she said in a video statement.

"There was not even a chosen lawyer on the case. Pedram's cellmates testify he confessed falsely and under pressure. In Revolutionary Courts these false confessions serve as the basis of death sentences," she added.

According to 'Mizan', Madani was accused of transmitting classified information and holding meetings with Mossad officers abroad, including in Brussels.

The judiciary said he had travelled to "the occupied territories" -- the term used by Iranian officials to describe Israel -- prior to his arrest in 2020–2021.

He was also convicted of acquiring "illicit wealth" by receiving euros and bitcoin from Israel.

In April, Iran executed Mohsen Langarneshin for allegedly aiding Mossad in the 2022 killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards colonel in Tehran.

Rights groups including IHR have said Langarneshin was executed after an unfair trial and a confession extracted under torture.

According to IHR, there have been at least 478 executions in Iran this year alone, including more than 60 hangings in the last 10 days.

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