On January 26, 2025, a coalition of prominent human rights advocates sent an urgent letter to H.E. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for immediate intervention to prevent the imminent execution of two Iranian political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani.
This letter highlights serious concerns regarding the unjust legal proceedings and treatment faced by these individuals.
Background of the Case
Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, were sentenced to death after a trial that lacked fairness and transparency. Their convictions were confirmed by Iran’s Supreme Court on January 7, 2025, based on charges related to their political activism, including “rebellion,” “waging war against God,” and “spreading corruption on earth.”
The trial was presided over by Judge Iman Afshari at the Tehran Revolutionary Court on September 16, 2024.
Reports indicate that both men suffered physical and psychological torture during their detention at Evin Prison after their arrests in late 2022.
On January 26, both prisoners were forcibly transferred from Evin Prison to Qezelhessar Prison, notorious for carrying out executions. This transfer occurred under suspicious conditions and has led to protests among fellow inmates. The cutting of communication lines further suggests that authorities may be preparing for secret executions.
Urgent Appeal
In their letter, the signatories urged High Commissioner Türk to take decisive action by:
Condemning the imminent executions of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani.
Mobilizing international pressure on Iran to adhere to its human rights obligations.
Requesting access for independent monitors to assess the conditions faced by political prisoners in Iran.
The authors emphasized that the international community cannot remain silent in the face of such blatant human rights violations.
Signatories
The letter was signed by a diverse group of distinguished individuals, including:
Lord Alton of Liverpool – United Kingdom
Dr. Mark Ellis – United Kingdom
Prof. William A. Schabas – Canada
Anne Ramberg – Sweden
Hon. Richard J. Goldstone – South Africa
Prof. Wolfgang Schomburg – Germany
Dr. Rowan Williams – United Kingdom
Dainius Pūras – Lithuania
Anand Grover – India
Maud De Boer-Buquicchio – The Netherlands
Prof. Robert K. Goldman – United States
Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt – Germany
Tahar Boumedra – United Kingdom
Prof. Christian Tomuschat – Germany
Prof. David M. Crane – United States
Kate Mackintosh – United Kingdom
Sir Richard J. Roberts – United Kingdom
Elfriede Jelinek – Austria
Prof. Jean-Pierre Sauvage – France
Prof. David Wineland – United States
Prof. Barry C. Barish – United States
Ingrid Betancourt – Colombia
Stanislav Pavlovschi – Moldova
Miriam Ekiudoko – Hungary
Francisco Assis – Portugal
Petras Auštrevičius – Lithuania
Sebastian Everding – Germany
Veronika Vrecionová – Czech Republic
Dr. Jessika van Leeuwen – Netherlands
Villy Søvndal – Denmark
Loucas Fourlas – Cyprus
Niels Geuking – Germany
Milan Zver – Slovenia
Marc Angel – Luxembourg
Katrin Langensiepen – Germany
Per Clausen – Denmark
Benedetta Scuderi – Italy
Andrey Kovatchev – Bulgaria
Rasa Juknevičienė – Lithuania
Arkadiusz Mularczyk – Poland
Amb. Zorica Marić-Djordjević – Montenegro
Amb. Amanda Ellis – New Zealand
Amb. Filloreta Kodra – Albania
Amb. Ken Blackwell – United States
Amb. Tudor Ulianovschi – Moldova
Amb. Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr. – United States
Dr. Maude Barlow – Canada
Prof. Rebecca Cook – Canada
Prof. Brice Dickson – United Kingdom
Prof. Nicholas Grief – United Kingdom
Amos Waldman – United Kingdom
Dominique Attias – France
Prof. Errol P. Mendes – Canada
Prof. Steven Leonard Jacobs – United States
Malcolm Fowler – United Kingdom
Prof. Ben Kiernan – United States
Jonathan Arkush – United Kingdom
Paulo Casaca – Portugal
Prof. Stephen Eric Bronner – United States
This extensive coalition underscores a unified stance against human rights abuses in Iran and calls for urgent action from the international community.
Conclusion
The situation surrounding Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani highlights critical issues regarding human rights violations in Iran and reflects a broader pattern of repression against political dissenters in the country.
The letter serves as a vital reminder of the need for immediate international action to safeguard human rights and prevent further injustices against individuals like Ehsani and Hassani, whose lives hang in the balance as they face imminent execution under a flawed judicial system.
The urgency of this appeal cannot be overstated; time is running out for Ehsani and Hassani as advocates call for decisive measures to halt their executions and uphold justice in Iran.
Source » irannewsupdate