On the morning of July 27, 2025, the Iranian regime carried out the execution of two political prisoners — Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani. The official charge levied against them was “waging war on God” (moharebeh), a sweeping and ambiguously defined offense frequently used by the Iranian judiciary to suppress dissent. In reality, their only “crime” was being associated with the (PMOI) — an opposition group that has long been targeted by the regime.
The execution of these two men is yet another reminder of the Iranian government’s systematic use of the death penalty as a tool for political repression. Iran consistently ranks among the world’s top executioners per capita, and in recent years, that number has sharply risen as the regime seeks to intimidate citizens and silence organized opposition.
Behrouz and Mehdi were reportedly denied fair trials, and credible reports suggest they were subjected to harsh interrogations and coerced confessions. These patterns are all too common in the Islamic Republic’s judicial system, especially in cases involving political activism, human rights work, or association with banned opposition movements. The use of moharebeh — a charge with theological overtones — is designed not only to criminalize political dissent but to dehumanize the accused in the eyes of the public.
The international response to Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment has been largely muted. While statements of condemnation occasionally follow such executions, real, sustained pressure is lacking. The United Nations and leading human rights organizations have long called for Iran to uphold its international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits arbitrary execution and ensures the right to a fair trial — obligations Iran continues to ignore with impunity.
It is now imperative that international actors, particularly the United Nations, take urgent and meaningful action. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Dr. Javaid Rehman, must go beyond routine statements. They must demand full transparency, access to detainees, and real accountability for those responsible for these executions.
Moreover, governments around the world — especially those engaged in diplomatic or trade negotiations with Tehran — must recognize that silence enables further abuses. The price of normalized relations with Iran should not be paid in human lives.
The executions of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani must not be forgotten. Their deaths are a call to action. The world must not wait until more political prisoners face the gallows to speak out. Accountability, diplomatic pressure, and an unwavering commitment to human rights are the only meaningful responses to this growing crisis.
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