Amnesty International Calls for the Abolition of Death Sentences and Immediate Release of Six Political Prisoners

On Monday, February 8, Amnesty International published an open letter addressed to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, demanding the annulment of death sentences for six political prisoners and their immediate release. In the letter, Amnesty International referred to the death sentences issued for Abdolhasan Montazeri, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Pouya Ghobadi, and Vahid Bani-Amirian by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in the fall of this year on charges of 'Baghi' (rebellion), describing their detention as arbitrary and a violation of their right to a fair trial. The international human rights organization further stated that these six political activists in Iran should have access to their families and legal counsel, and that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic must refrain from further torture and mistreatment of them. According to the letter, allegations related to the torture of these six political prisoners should be investigated, and those responsible for their torture should be fairly prosecuted without resorting to the death penalty. Abdolhasan Montazeri, 65, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, 58, Babak Alipour, 33, Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, 58, Pouya Ghobadi, 31, and Vahid Bani-Amirian, 32, are among the prisoners facing the charge of 'Baghi,' which in legal terms means armed rebellion or uprising against the government. 'Membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization' is one of the accusations attributed to these prisoners. Amnesty International also called for a formal halt to the implementation of death sentences by the Islamic Republic and the abolition of the death penalty in Iran.