Six Political Prisoners in Iran Sentenced to Death Amid Allegations of Torture and Unfair Trials
The Iranian judiciary has sentenced six political prisoners to death on charges related to their alleged association with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and other national security offenses. The individuals, identified as Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian, Babak Alipour, Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Mohammad Taghavi, were convicted to death following prolonged interrogations reportedly involving torture. The verdicts were issued by Judge Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran.
The charges include “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),” “collusion and conspiracy against national security,” “armed rebellion against the government,” “forming a group to disrupt national security,” and “destruction of public property using a launcher.” Two other individuals, Mojtaba and Ali Taghavi, the brothers of Mohammad Taghavi, were sentenced to imprisonment and exile.
Profiles of the Sentenced Prisoners
- Abolhassan Montazer (65):
An architecture graduate and political prisoner from the 1980s, Montazer has faced multiple arrests, including in 2018, 2020, and January 2024. He suffers from severe health issues, including heart, lung, and kidney diseases, as well as arthritis. - Pouya Ghobadi (32):
An electrical engineer, Ghobadi was arrested in March 2024. He had previously been detained on two occasions. - Vahid Bani-Amerian (32):
Holding a master’s degree in management, Bani-Amerian was arrested in January 2024. He has spent a total of four years in prison across multiple arrests since 2017. - Babak Alipour (33):
A law graduate, Alipour was arrested in January 2024. He was previously detained in November 2018 in the northern city of Rasht, serving a four-year prison term. - Akbar Daneshvarkar (57):
A civil engineer, Daneshvarkar was arrested in January 2024. - Mohammad Taghavi (58):
A political prisoner during the 1980s and 1990s, Taghavi was last arrested in 2020 and imprisoned for three years on charges of association with the PMOI/MEK.
The brothers of Mohammad Taghavi, Mojtaba and Ali, were sentenced to imprisonment and exile solely due to their familial connection to him.
International Call for Action
Iran HRM calls on the United Nations Security Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council, and other relevant bodies, as well as the European Union and its member states, to intervene urgently. The organization demands immediate action to save the lives of these prisoners and secure the release of all political detainees in Iran.
This case highlights ongoing concerns over the use of torture, lack of due process, and harsh penalties imposed by the Iranian judiciary against political dissidents. Human rights advocates urge swift international pressure to prevent further executions and address systemic injustices in Iran.
