Today, the Iranian Academic Association held a powerful street exhibition across various locations in London and Manchester City Centre, drawing urgent attention to the plight of two Iranian political activists, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who face imminent execution after the Iranian judiciary rejected their retrial request.
The exhibition aimed to raise public awareness about the dire human rights violations facing political prisoners in Iran, particularly Ehsani and Hassani, who have been imprisoned on politically motivated charges. The denial of their retrial request has heightened fears that their executions could be carried out at any moment. Activists, members of the Iranian diaspora, and human rights defenders gathered to amplify calls for immediate international intervention.
Background of the Case Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, both long-standing political activists, were arrested during the recent wave of protests in Iran. They were charged with vague and fabricated accusations related to “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth” — charges frequently used by Iranian authorities to silence dissent. Their trials were marked by gross violations of due process, including lack of access to legal representation, coerced confessions, and closed-door court sessions.
The activists’ request for a retrial was denied last week, dashing hopes for a fair judicial review of their cases. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the Iranian authorities’ decision and called for the immediate suspension of their death sentences.
Street Exhibition and Protest The street exhibition featured visual displays, banners, and photographic evidence highlighting the systematic repression of political activists in Iran. Protesters held signs reading “#SaveBehrouzAndMehdi” and “Stop Executions in Iran” while distributing flyers explaining the activists’ plight to passersby. The exhibition served not only to inform the public but also to mobilise collective pressure on international bodies to take urgent action.
A representative of the Iranian Academic Association stated:
“We are here today to demand that the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, and all relevant UN bodies act immediately to prevent the executions of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani. The international community must not remain silent in the face of these state-sanctioned killings.”
Calls for International Intervention Activists at the exhibition urged the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, and other global institutions to intervene without delay. The demonstrators called on these bodies to pressure the Iranian government to halt the executions and to push for the activists’ immediate and unconditional release.
The Iranian Academic Association reiterated that the lives of Ehsani and Hassani now depend on swift international action. The association has submitted an urgent appeal to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, requesting direct intervention.
Conclusion The street exhibition in Manchester serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis in Iran. The fate of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani hangs in the balance, and the international community’s swift action is crucial to saving their lives. The Iranian Academic Association calls on all human rights organisations, civil society groups, and concerned citizens to amplify their voices and demand an end to the death penalty for political prisoners in Iran.
#SaveBehrouzAndMehdi
#StopExecutionsInIran
#UNActNow