On May 11, 2026, Iranian authorities executed Erfan Shakourzadeh, a 29-year-old satellite technology researcher, and aerospace engineering post-graduate student at Iran University of Science and Technology.
Members of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested Shakourzadeh in February 2025 and charged him with espionage for allegedly providing details on his workplace and other sensitive information to US and Israeli intelligence agencies. He was held in Ghezel Hesar prison, where he was allegedly tortured and held in solitary confinement. According to Iranian human rights groups, he was convicted and hanged on the basis of a false confession.
Shakourzadeh was the fifth person to be executed by Iranian authorities for espionage since the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in late February 2026.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrest, wrongful prosecution, detention, torture, and execution as part of sweeping measures by state authorities to restrict the right to academic freedom and freedom of expression, and sends condolences to Mr. Shakourzadeh’s family, colleagues, and community. Such conduct is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party. State authorities must respect academic freedom and nonviolent expressive conduct and refrain from actions intended to punish, restrict, or deter such conduct.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-hangs-grad-student-accused-spying-cia-mossad/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/iran-hanging-student-torture-cia-mossad/
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/05/article-62
https://iran-hrm.com/2026/05/12/the-120th-week-of-the-no-to-execution-tuesdays-campaign-in-56-prisons-across-iran/
https://www.instagram.com/solidarity.with.iran/p/DYMDymnk5ZI/
https://x.com/autnews_org/status/2053743134450860459?s=20
https://www.en-hrana.org/erfan-shakourzadeh-aerospace-engineering-student-executed-on-charges-of-espionage/