Employee of “Passive Defense” Sector Executed for Espionage

The judiciary of the Islamic Republic said that Mehdi Farid, who was described as an employee of one of the country’s “sensitive organizations” working in “passive defense,” was executed early Wednesday morning, April 22, on charges of “espionage” for Israel.

Mizan News, the judiciary’s media outlet, reported that Farid was “providing sensitive national information to the Mossad.” Although his workplace was referred to as “one of the country’s sensitive organizations,” human rights groups had earlier identified him as a former employee of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

According to the report, Farid had “connected the servers of a sensitive organization to infected files on the orders of a Mossad officer.” SNN (Student News Network) also reported: “Reports from the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Protection Organization indicate that, by repeatedly connecting USB devices within the organization, he facilitated external access to the systems.”

Mizan further stated that Farid “established communication with Mossad officers through cyberspace and knowingly continued his cooperation with this service.” The judiciary’s media outlet added that “during the proceedings, the convicted individual confessed to transferring information, including organizational structure, security status, personnel information, and infrastructure details.”

The report also said he was promised “a salary, bonuses, and a chance to leave the country” in return for his cooperation, which never materialized. It added that, in related cases, 19 other sentences, including prison terms and fines, have been issued in Qom province for individuals accused of “cooperating with the enemy.”

The Islamic Republic has stepped up the use of death sentences since the start of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 last year. In recent days, there have been multiple reports of daily executions being carried out by the Iranian judiciary.