The Iranian Revolutionary Court, in a move that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, has sentenced two political prisoners to death. On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the 26th Branch of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, officially notified the defense lawyer representing the two prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, of the court’s decision.
Behrouz Ehsani, 67, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, were both convicted on charges of “enmity against God,” “corruption on earth,” and “rebellion,” all severe allegations often associated with political dissent in Iran. Additional charges included membership in the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), gathering classified information, and conspiring against national security.
Background on the Prisoners
Mehdi Hassani was arrested on September 11, 2022, in Zanjan and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison’s notorious Ward 209, which is managed by the Ministry of Intelligence. He has endured significant psychological and physical torture during his imprisonment. Currently, he remains incarcerated in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, where political prisoners are often held.
Behrouz Ehsani, arrested on December 6, 2022, at his home, also spent time in the Ministry of Intelligence’s Ward 209. Ehsani, a 67-year-old man who had a high school education and ran a small business, was only permitted a single brief phone call with his family during his early detention. He is the sole provider for his elderly mother, wife, and two children.
Reactions from Evin Prison’s Political Prisoners
Following the court’s decision, political prisoners in Evin Prison, including those in Wards 4 and 8, as well as female prisoners, issued a joint statement condemning the death sentences. They argued that these actions reflect the government’s growing fear of dissent, particularly as the country nears the anniversary of the 2022 protests, which were triggered by widespread grievances against the regime’s authoritarian rule.
In their statement, the prisoners declared: “Issuing such sentences, especially on the anniversary of the 2022 uprising, shows the regime’s desperation. The era of fear and intimidation has passed. These death sentences will only further ignite the flames of resistance.”
The prisoners further appealed to the international community, calling on human rights organizations to intervene and prevent the execution of their fellow detainees. They stressed the need for global efforts to stop these “unjust and barbaric” executions, urging the international community to speak out against the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.
As the Iranian government continues its crackdown on dissent, activists and organizations are calling for more robust international measures to hold Tehran accountable for its human rights abuses, including the increased use of capital punishment as a tool of political repression.
