Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Cancellation of Ahmadreza Jalali's Death Sentence

On Monday, October 23, Amnesty International urged the Iranian government to immediately revoke the death sentence of Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian researcher residing in Sweden. This international human rights organization states that Jalali was tortured psychologically and forced to confess to acts he did not commit in an unfair trial that led to his death sentence. Philip Luther, the director of Middle East and North Africa research at Amnesty International, stated that Jalali was sentenced to death in a completely unjust and unfair court, which not only shows that Iranian officials are still determined to use the death penalty, but also view the enforcement of law in a completely humiliating manner. This Amnesty official emphasized that no evidence has ever been presented to show that Jalali was engaged in anything other than academic work. If he has been tried and sentenced for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, including through his academic work, the Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him and revoke all charges against him. According to Amnesty International, an audio file has been published on YouTube that appears to feature Ahmadreza Jalali stating that during his time in solitary confinement, he was forced by interrogators to read statements containing 'confessions' in front of a camera on two occasions. Jalali has been residing in Sweden since 2009 and holds permanent residency in the country. He was engaged in research and activities in crisis management and worked at Karolinska University near Stockholm. He has been imprisoned since April 24 of last year on charges of 'espionage' and 'collaboration with an enemy state.' Jalali had previously traveled to Iran at the invitation of educational and academic institutions. Zainab Taheri, Jalali's lawyer, told Amnesty International that Jalali was sentenced to death for 'corruption on earth.' Amnesty International added that one of Jalali's lawyers who reviewed the court ruling stated that it mentioned Jalali had collaborated with the Israeli government, which allegedly helped him obtain residency in Sweden. Vida Mehran-Nia, Jalali's wife, who lives in Sweden with their two children, told Amnesty International that her husband has suffered multiple physical and mental health issues in prison. Vida Mehran-Nia stated, 'We demand my husband's freedom because he has committed no crime.' Previously, Jalali's wife and Amnesty International had announced that Judge Abolqasem Salavati, head of Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, verbally told this imprisoned researcher that he would be sentenced to death for charges such as 'espionage' or 'collaboration with enemy countries.' In this context, Swedish media reported that Ahmadreza Jalali's death sentence has been communicated. The imprisoned researcher in Iran has developed 'multiple physical problems.' Ahmadreza Jalali, the imprisoned researcher, 'has gone on hunger strike again.' 'The Ministry of Intelligence's promise to reconsider' Jalali's case, the imprisoned doctor. Amnesty International: Ahmadreza Jalali may be sentenced to death. Vida Mehran-Nia: My husband, Ahmadreza Jalali, has been sentenced to death.