Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Halt to Execution of Reza Rasai

Amnesty International has warned about the imminent execution of Reza (Gholamreza) Rasai, a 34-year-old protester sentenced to death, and has called for an immediate halt to the execution. The human rights organization described Rasai's trial as 'severely unjust' and emphasized that the death sentence was based on 'forced confessions obtained under torture and mistreatment.' On Wednesday, April 12, Amnesty International sent a letter to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, demanding an 'immediate halt' to the execution of Reza Rasai, the dropping of charges, and his release. Several human rights organizations have reported 'multiple doubts' regarding this protester's case and the issuance of the death sentence based on 'judicial discretion.' Amnesty International added that this imprisoned protester has resorted to all legal means to stop his execution, and given that his sentence has been referred to the execution department, he is at risk of execution at any moment. According to this international organization, Reza Rasai, who is among those arrested during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests in 2022, was subjected to 'enforced disappearance' during the first four months of his detention. These protests began in response to the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police. Amnesty International reported that this protester has faced 'tortures' such as 'beatings,' 'electric shocks,' 'suffocation,' 'sexual violence,' and solitary confinement during his detention. Reza Rasai, a detained protester from the 'Sahneh' county in Kermanshah province, has been sentenced to death for the alleged 'murder' of Nader Birami, the head of the intelligence department of this county, and this sentence has been confirmed by the 17th branch of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. Rasai has denied this allegation. In the previous Bahman month, after Rasai's appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court, Amnesty International had also warned about the risk of execution for this protesting citizen. Human rights organizations and activists have warned in recent months about the potential execution of several political prisoners, including Reza Rasai, Mojahid Korkor, Habib Daris, and Abbas Daris. Recently, Tomaj Salehi, a detained protest rapper, has also been sentenced to death. The Iran Human Rights Organization has called for the halt and annulment of the death sentence for Reza Rasai and other political prisoners, urging the international community to adopt a 'decisive and sustainable' policy to stop the daily executions in Iran. Several political prisoners in Iran have been on hunger strikes every Tuesday, known as 'Black Tuesdays,' since Bahman of last year in protest against the wave of executions. Despite widespread domestic and international protests, the Islamic Republic continues to execute prisoners.