On the morning of February 2, 2025, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, two political prisoners sentenced to death, were transferred to Ward 4 of the political prisoners’ unit in Qezel-Hesar Prison. This transfer took place following the suspension of their execution and the referral of their case to the Supreme Court for retrial.
According to reliable reports, the two prisoners, who are members of the “No to Executions on Tuesdays” campaign, were initially transferred from Evin Prison to the secure unit of Ward 3 in Qezel-Hesar Prison on January 26, 2025, in preparation for their execution. However, following widespread domestic and international protests, their execution was halted, and their case was sent to the Supreme Court for further review.
Subsequently, on January 30, 2025, they were moved to the political prisoners’ ward for death row inmates, and finally, on February 2, 2025, they were relocated to Ward 4 of Qezel-Hesar Prison.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, a 70-year-old prisoner, was arrested in November 2022 in Tehran and, after three and a half months of interrogation, was transferred to Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Alongside Mehdi Hassani, a 48-year-old prisoner from Zanjan, he was sentenced to death in September 2024 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.
Without undergoing the appeal process, the Supreme Court confirmed their death sentences on January 8, 2025. Their charges include:
- Baghi (armed rebellion)
- Moharebeh (enmity against God)
- Corruption on Earth
- Membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)
- Collecting classified information
- Assembly and collusion against national security
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have denounced their trial as unfair and have called for the immediate revocation of their sentences.
