Iran has been repeatedly criticized for employing severe corporal punishments, particularly hand amputation, as part of its judicial system. Despite international condemnation, Iranian courts continue to issue and execute amputation sentences, especially for theft-related offenses. These punishments not only violate fundamental human rights but also inflict long-lasting psychological and physical trauma on the individuals subjected to them. This report delves into recent cases of hand amputation in Iran, highlights the historical and legal context behind such punishments, and underscores the urgent need for international pressure to end these inhumane practices.
Recent Cases of Hand Amputation
1. Theft of Bank Safety Deposit Boxes – Armin and Hatef
On October 28, 2024, two men, Armin and Hatef, were sentenced to the amputation of their fingers by a Tehran criminal court. They were accused of orchestrating a theft involving safety deposit boxes at a national bank in Tehran. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence after a trial held in September 2024, citing “corruption on earth” and “hudud theft” as the grounds for their punishment. The sentence entails the amputation of four fingers on the right hand for each defendant.
Armin attempted suicide in prison in September 2024, reportedly due to the psychological distress of facing such a severe sentence.
2. Amputation for Alleged Theft of Livestock – Yousef T.
In another disturbing case, on July 17, 2023, the fingers of a 35-year-old prisoner named Yousef T. were amputated in Qom Central Prison. Yousef was accused of stealing five sheep from a livestock farmer affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Despite maintaining his innocence throughout his 13-month imprisonment, the sentence was carried out with chilling efficiency. Disturbingly, other inmates were reportedly forced to witness the amputation, which was performed using a mechanical guillotine.
This case highlights the harsh treatment meted out to individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Yousef, a construction worker struggling to make ends meet, was arrested under dubious circumstances while working on a project at the victim’s farm. The coercive tactics used to extract confessions and the lack of due process further raise questions about the integrity of Iran’s legal proceedings.
3. The Case of Shahab and Mehrdad Teimouri – Brothers Subjected to Amputation
On October 28, 2024, two brothers, Shahab and Mehrdad Teimouri, were subjected to the amputation of their fingers in Urmia Central Prison. The men, originally from Sarpol-e Zahab but residing in Karaj, were accused of theft. The gruesome punishment was carried out using a guillotine-like device, after which the brothers were briefly hospitalized before being returned to prison without adequate medical care. Sources report that prison officials ordered the amputated fingers to be buried, further highlighting the inhumane treatment of those subjected to such sentences.
Despite objections from their court-appointed lawyers and appeals to higher courts, the sentences were executed. This case exemplifies the ruthless enforcement of hudud punishments in Iran, which persist even in the face of international human rights objections.
4. Case of Hadi Rostami: Beaten and Sent to Solitary Confinement
On February 5, 2024, Hadi Rostami, a prisoner sentenced to the amputation of four fingers on his right hand, was brutally beaten by prison guards in response to his ongoing protests. Following this assault, led by guards identified as Babaei and Daniyali, Rostami was transferred to solitary confinement with visible injuries, including head wounds that caused bleeding. In an act of desperate resistance, Rostami began a dry hunger strike immediately upon his transfer.
In a letter written from prison, Rostami revealed that he was unjustly convicted, asserting that he had no involvement in 20 out of the 28 theft cases attributed to him. Despite these claims and a lack of concrete evidence, the court dismissed his defense and proceeded to issue a cruel sentence of finger amputation.
5. Threats of Imminent Amputation in Urmia Prison
In June 2024, during an official visit to Urmia Central Prison, Nasser Atabati, Director General of the Justice Department for West Azerbaijan Province, and Majidi, the Prosecutor of Urmia, reportedly threatened four prisoners with the immediate execution of their sentences of finger amputation. These men, all charged with theft, are currently detained under harsh conditions. Those facing this grim punishment include Mehdi Sharafian (38 years old), Mehdi Shahivand (43 years old), Kasra Karami (41 years old), and Morteza Esmailian (44 years old).
Historical Context and Legal Basis for Hand Amputation in Iran
The practice of hand amputation in Iran is rooted in Article 278 of the Islamic Penal Code, which authorizes this form of punishment for “hudud theft”—a category of theft that meets strict legal criteria, such as stealing property above a certain value from a secure location. For first-time offenders, the punishment is typically the amputation of four fingers on the right hand, leaving only the thumb and palm intact. In cases of repeated offenses, the penalties can escalate to include the amputation of the left foot.
This severe form of corporal punishment is not a recent phenomenon in Iran; over the past four decades, numerous instances have been documented where individuals accused of theft have had their fingers or hands amputated, sometimes even in public view. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, between 2000 and 2020, at least 237 individuals were sentenced to amputation, with 129 of these sentences being carried out. The real number of victims is likely to be higher as many cases are believed to go unreported.
Despite widespread international condemnation, Iranian authorities have continued to enforce this brutal punishment beyond 2020. On July 27, 2022, a guillotine-like device was used to amputate the fingers of Pouya Torabi, a man in his late thirties, at Tehran’s Evin Prison. Following the procedure, which officials and a doctor witnessed, Torabi was rushed to a hospital due to severe bleeding.
Similarly, on May 31, 2022, authorities amputated the fingers of Sayed Barat Hosseini without administering anesthesia. After the procedure, Hosseini was returned to solitary confinement in Evin Prison, where he was denied necessary medical care, resulting in severe trauma and infections. These cases highlight the ongoing use of cruel and inhumane punishments in Iran, despite its obligations under international human rights laws.
Increased Use of Mechanical Devices for Amputations
Reports from multiple prisons indicate that mechanical devices, resembling guillotines, are increasingly being used to carry out amputations. For example, in Qom and Urmia prisons, these devices are used to sever fingers with brutal efficiency. The victims are often denied adequate post-operative care, leading to infections and prolonged suffering. In some cases, like that of Hadi Rostami, who was transferred to various prisons under threat of amputation, authorities use the threat of this punishment to intimidate and control inmates.
Rostami’s case is particularly egregious. On February 5, 2024, he was beaten by guards and placed in solitary confinement after protesting his sentence. Despite repeatedly asserting that he had no involvement in many of the thefts he was accused of, the courts disregarded his defense and upheld the sentence of amputating four fingers from his right hand.
International Condemnation
The practice of hand amputation as a judicial punishment is a clear violation of international human rights laws, including the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which Iran has ratified. These treaties prohibit cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment or punishment. Yet, Iran’s judiciary continues to impose such sentences, often without fair trials or proper legal representation for the accused.
The persistence of hand amputation as a legal punishment in Iran is not only a gross violation of human rights but also a stark reminder of the regime’s willingness to resort to brutal measures to maintain control. The use of such medieval punishments highlights the urgent need for international intervention.
Iran HRM urges human rights organizations, international bodies, and foreign governments to continue to pressure the Iranian authorities to abolish the practice of amputation.
The international community must not remain silent in the face of such clear abuses. It is imperative to demand that Iran immediately halt the execution of amputation sentences and provide reparations to those who have already suffered under this cruel practice.
