Iran announced the execution of a man accused of spying for Israel. Activists dispute the charges and claim that he was tortured to make false confessions, the Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
The judicial news agency "Mizan" reported that the executed man was Babak Shahbazi, whom it claims collected and sold confidential information about Iranian data centers and security installations to Israel.
However, activists claim that Shahbazi was detained for writing a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offering his help. The AP recalls that Iran supplies Russia with drones that Moscow uses to attack Ukraine. The Iranian Human Rights group warned that Shahbazi could be executed.
"Babak's message to President Zelensky, in which he offered to help in the war against Russia, was used as evidence of espionage for Israel, which they say taught Babak to use the "Microsoft Word" program," the group said. Iran has not confirmed the claim.
Activists have described Shahbazi as someone who offered to fight for Ukraine. Iran has not specified how Shahbazi was executed, although death row prisoners are usually hanged. Iran hanged eight people accused of espionage after the 12-day war with Israel, raising concerns among activists of a wave of executions.