Amnesty International Calls for 'Immediate Action' to Halt Executions in Iran

Amnesty International has issued a statement calling for immediate action to stop executions in Iran. The organization noted that at least seven people in Iran are sentenced to death in connection with recent nationwide protests, and dozens more are on the brink of execution. According to Amnesty International, the Iranian government has deprived protesters of their right to a fair trial, subjecting many to torture and other abuses such as flogging, electric shocks, and threats of death and sexual violence. The organization further states that amid a surge in executions since late April, on May 19, Iranian authorities arbitrarily executed three tortured protesters named Majid Kazemi, Saeed Yaghoubi, and Saleh Mirhashimi, whom they deemed 'wrongfully convicted' in Isfahan. Amnesty International, in a letter to Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran's judiciary, urged everyone to send this protest text to the Iranian embassy in the EU headquarters in Belgium or to demand a halt to executions in Iran by sending their own protest letters to this office. In its letter to Mohseni Ejei, the organization expressed deep concern that 'dozens of people are at risk of the death penalty following severely unfair trials involving charges of moharebeh (waging war against God) and ifsad fil-arz (corruption on earth).' The organization added: 'Ibrahim Naroui, Kambiz Kharout, Manoochehr Mehman-Navaaz, Mansour Dahmarde, Mohammad Qabadelou, Mojahid (Abbas) Korkor, and Shoaib Mir Baloch-Zahi Rigi have been sentenced to death, and at least the death sentences of four others named Mahan Sadrat (Sadarat) Madani, Mansour Hoot, Mohammad Boroghani, and Hosam-al-Din Hoot have been annulled by the Supreme Court, returning their cases to the lower courts.' Amnesty International stated that 'at least the trials of three others named Saeed Shirazi, Abolfazl Mehri Hossein Hajiloo, and Mohsen Rezazadeh Qaraqlou are ongoing with charges that could lead to the death penalty, and dozens of others are being interrogated for serious crimes related to the protests.' Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary, was also informed in another part of the letter that 'the individuals mentioned have faced severely unfair trials in revolutionary courts or criminal courts across the country,' adding: 'Officials used confessions obtained under torture, some of which were even broadcast by state media as evidence for convictions before the trials.' Amnesty International urged Mohseni Ejei: 'I ask you to immediately annul all convictions and death sentences related to the protests, refrain from issuing further death sentences, and ensure that anyone accused of a recognizable criminal offense is tried in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards, without resorting to the death penalty.' The organization continued: 'I call for the release of all those detained for peacefully exercising their human rights. I urge you to ensure detainees have access to their families and chosen lawyers, protect them from torture and other ill-treatment, investigate allegations of torture, and bring anyone responsible to justice in fair trials.' In conclusion, Amnesty International requested Mohseni Ejei to allow independent observers to attend trials and access death row inmates related to the protests, and more broadly, to immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with the aim of abolishing the death penalty. The text is in English, but Amnesty International stated that protest letters can be sent in any language to the Iranian embassy in the EU. The organization has asked everyone to send their letters by July 23 and to contact Amnesty International offices in their countries for more information. Saleh Mirhashimi, Majid Kazemi Sheikh Shabani, and Saeed Yaghoubi Kordsafli, defendants in the 'Isfahan House' case, were executed early on Friday, May 19. These three were accused of killing two Basij members and a police officer, which they and their families repeatedly denied. The three defendants also stated that they were forced to make televised confessions after extensive torture. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department previously responded in writing to a question from the Persian section of Voice of America regarding the Biden administration's reaction to the execution of the three defendants in the 'Isfahan House' case, stating: 'We condemn the execution of Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashimi, and Saeed Yaghoubi by the Iranian regime in the strongest possible terms, and we stand with the people of Iran in mourning the families of these three.' The spokesperson stated: 'As we have said before, it is clear from this regime's behavior that it has learned nothing from the protests that began last September. It is no surprise that many young people in Iran are calling for change or are leaving the country in droves.' The U.S. State Department spokesperson emphasized: 'We once again tell the Iranian regime to stop the killings, stop the show trials, and respect the human rights of its people. Unfortunately, we do not expect it to do so. Therefore, we continue to work closely with the world, our allies, and partners to condemn and counter such egregious human rights violations.'