An international group of academics, legal experts, and political figures has written to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging intervention to halt the imminent executions of two political prisoners in Iran.
Behrouz Ehsani, 71, a political prisoner since the 1980s, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, have recently been transferred from the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran to Qezelhessar Prison, where executions are typically carried out by the regime. The charges against them include alleged membership in the (PMOI) and “enmity against God.”
In their letter to Volker Türk, the signatories expressed concern that the prisoners’ relocation “suggests authorities are preparing for their secret execution.”
They stated: “The sentences were imposed following credible reports of physical and psychological torture during their detention in Evin Prison after their arrests in late 2022.
“Denied a fair trial, their appeals were summarily dismissed, violating Iran’s obligations under international human rights law.”
The letter highlighted Iran’s alarming track record of executions, noting that approximately 1,000 prisoners were executed last year, a brutal tactic used to “terrorise the population and suppress dissent.”
The plea for intervention has also been sent to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging his diplomatic efforts to prevent the executions.
Simultaneously, Amnesty International has issued an “urgent action” appeal to halt the planned execution of six men in Iran following a “grossly unfair” trial. The men were convicted of “armed rebellion against the state” and alleged membership in the PMOI.
Amnesty International reported that these individuals were subjected to torture and mistreatment, including beatings, floggings, restrictions on toilet access, prolonged solitary confinement, and death threats at gunpoint during interrogations.
The human rights group has urged concerned citizens to write to the head of Iran’s judiciary and the Iranian Embassy to the EU in Brussels, using their letter as a model. Amnesty underscored that the Iranian authorities had repeatedly violated the defendants’ fundamental rights, including the right to a fair trial, access to legal representation, protection from self-incrimination under duress, and adjudication by an impartial and competent tribunal.
This collective call for action highlights the urgent need for international diplomatic pressure to protect human rights and uphold the rule of law in Iran.