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Today in Focus

Iran’s wartime executions

4/30/202624 min

Over the last six weeks, the Iranian regime has carried out a spate of executions of political prisoners. The Guardian journalist Daniel Boffey reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Clips

Showing 10 of 12
Death At Dawn, Twice
‘I Think It Is Murder’
Brother Taken, Family Threatened
Singing Before the Gallows
Families Speak Despite Threats
War As Cover For Repression
‘Speak Out. Include Executions.’
The Hanging Judge’s Return
When The World Looks Away
Families Denied Their Dead

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Annie Kelly· Host0:00

    This is The Guardian. [electronic music] Today, voices from Iran's death row. Just before we start, this episode does contain graphic descriptions of executions.

  2. Naser Bakorzadeh· Soundbite0:25

    Naser Bakorzadeh.

  3. Annie Kelly· Host0:31

    This is the voice of a 23-year-old Kurdish political prisoner in Iran accused of spying for Israel. "I am Naser Bakorzadeh," he says, "and you're hearing my voice from Urmia Central Prison."

  4. Naser Bakorzadeh· Soundbite0:43

    My parents have been dying every day since the day I was arrested until today.

  5. Annie Kelly· Host0:51

    In a message recorded down a prison phone line, he says he was arrested three years ago. From that day onwards, as he puts it, "My parents have been dying every day, and the pain of separation and longing has been crushing them." Naser's message is a desperate one because he knows time is running out. He says it might be the last time anyone hears his voice because his death sentence has just been confirmed. And the thing that seems to weigh on him most, how can he tell his fiancée what's about to happen to him?

  6. Naser Bakorzadeh· Soundbite1:27

    Even right now, a few hours after I heard the news of my sentence being upheld, I don't know

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