A Chain of Repression and Resistance
Introduction
The ruling regime in Iran continues its repression of dissidents through death sentences, relentless torture, and long-term solitary confinement. These instruments of oppression are used to silence any voice of protest and to create an atmosphere of fear in society. In previous reports, we examined the situation of several political prisoners sentenced to death. In this edition, we review the case of Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, who has been subjected to the harshest forms of brutal repression.
Seyed Mohammad Taghavi: From Resistance in the 1980s to Another Battle in the 2020s
Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, a 58-year-old graphic designer and political activist born in 1966, has faced repression, imprisonment, and torture under Iran’s clerical regime for over four decades. He was first arrested in the early 1980s, during the initial years following the Iranian Revolution. Over the years, he was repeatedly pursued and imprisoned. His most recent sentence, issued in 2021, convicted him of “assembly and collusion against national security,” sentencing him to five years in prison and two years of exile in Kahnooj, Kerman Province. However, his freedom was short-lived. In March 2024, he was re-arrested in Chaldoran and transferred to Evin Prison.
Solitary Confinement: A Silent but Lethal Torture
After his transfer to Evin Prison, he spent 168 days in solitary confinement in Ward 209, completely cut off from the outside world. In July 2024, when he refused to participate in his sham trial, Judge Iman Afshari ordered his return to solitary confinement. This form of punishment, aimed at breaking prisoners’ will, is widely recognized as torture under international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Torture, Forced Cellmate Sharing, and Protesting Against Systemic Abuse
One of the main reasons Seyed Mohammad Taghavi went on a hunger strike was not only the pressures imposed on him but also witnessing the brutal torture of other inmates. He was placed in a cell with an Afghan prisoner who had been severely tortured. This prisoner endured extreme beatings and inhumane treatment. Witnessing these horrors, Mohammad Taghavi launched a hunger strike in protest, standing up for his fellow prisoner’s human rights. This act highlights the spirit that distinguishes political prisoners from others—a struggle not just for themselves but for justice and human dignity for all.
Show Trials and Fabricated Security Cases
On June 24, 2024, political prisoners Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, Vahid Bani Amarian, Babak Alipour, and Pouya Ghobadi were summoned to Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court for an indictment hearing. However, they refused to wear prison uniforms and declined to attend the court session. In response, Judge Iman Afshari threatened to transfer Seyed Mohammad Taghavi back to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi, the brother of Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, was also prosecuted in connection with the same case on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).”
Finally, on October 6, 2024, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi and six other prisoners, including Babak Alipour, Vahid Bani Amarian, Pouya Ghobadi, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, and Abolhassan Montazer, were sentenced to death in a sham trial on charges of “rebellion” and “collaboration with the PMOI.” None of these prisoners were granted the right to a fair defense; their sentences were predetermined, based on forced confessions extracted through torture.
Amnesty International issued an urgent appeal on behalf of six political prisoners—Abolhassan Montazer, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Pouya Ghobadi, and Vahid Bani Amarian—warning that they are at imminent risk of execution following an unfair trial.
Prison, Death Cells, and an Unbreakable Will
In protest against his conditions in Ward 209 of Evin Prison and the torture of his cellmate, Mohammad Taghavi began a hunger strike in mid-September 2024. His physical condition deteriorated significantly. According to his fellow inmates, he was brought to court after a month-long hunger strike, appearing severely weakened and emaciated. His frail state shocked those who saw him. The psychological and physical pressure on these prisoners reflects the Iranian regime’s systematic policy to eliminate dissidents and resistance forces.
The International Community: Is It Time to Act?
The situation of political prisoners in Iran has reached a critical point. International bodies must take concrete and urgent action to stop political executions and end torture. The time has come for the world to move beyond verbal condemnations and impose legal and diplomatic pressure to force the regime to end this brutal repression.
This report will continue in future editions, covering more cases of political prisoners on death row.
