Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani

Take a good look at the man in the photo. He could be your neighbor, your kids school teacher, or the barber who cuts your hair. Instead, he’s dead. He was murdered by the Iranian government.

They don’t call it murder, of course. Mohammad was given a show trial where he and a hundred other defendants were tried en masse. Mohammad was convicted of being a mohareb — an enemy of God — and sentenced to be executed.

He and one other prisoner were executed the next morning. Nine more Iranians have been sentenced to die, but there is no news as to whether those executions have taken place.

These murders, and many others, have been necessary to keep the people of Iran living in fear of their government. This cannot last forever. One day the citizens of Iran will stand together and overthrow their oppressors. Until that time, these executions will continue.