Human Rights Watch: The Islamic Republic is preparing to amputate the fingers of three men in Urmia prison

Human Rights Watch reports that the Islamic Republic of Iran is preparing to carry out the amputations of the fingers of three male prisoners, warning that these sentences may be executed starting Friday, April 22. According to a statement from this human rights organization, a copy of which was obtained by Radio Farda on Thursday, April 21, all UN member states have been urged to immediately demand that Iran adhere to its human rights obligations and promptly revoke these sentences. Human Rights Watch has reported that the officials responsible for executing the sentences at Urmia Central Prison in West Azerbaijan Province summoned 38-year-old Hadi Rostami, 42-year-old Mehdi Sharifian, and 29-year-old Mehdi Shahivand on March 13, stating that their sentences would be executed from April 22 onwards. The three were arrested in September 2017 on charges of burglary and theft of safes. Amnesty International states that the defendants were sentenced in November 2019 after a 'severely unfair' trial in the first branch of the West Azerbaijan Criminal Court to the amputation of four fingers of their right hand, leaving the thumb and palm intact. Bahar Saba, a senior researcher on Iran at Human Rights Watch, stated: 'Amputation is clearly a form of torture. Yet Iran insists on enforcing cruel and inhumane punishments, which is a gross violation of its human rights commitments.' She added, 'All officials responsible for issuing sentences and executing actions that constitute torture, including all medical personnel involved, bear criminal responsibility and can be prosecuted under international law.' Human Rights Watch provided evidence in its statement of the 'unfair' trial of these three individuals, including that they 'had no access to a lawyer during the investigation phase and only saw their lawyer twice, once when signing the power of attorney and once during the trial sessions.' The defendants also indicated that 'during their detention at the Urmia police station, they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment by the officers. The officers beat them, whipped them, and hung them by their hands and wrists, forcing them to confess against themselves and each other.' According to this human rights organization, 'Afterward, all three retracted their confessions, but the court still relied on the forced confessions obtained through torture to convict them.' Iran is one of the few countries that still retains and enforces corporal punishments. Under international law, cruel and inhumane punishments such as whipping and amputation are absolutely prohibited. Human Rights Watch also expressed concern that 'at least two other men named Kasra Karami and Morteza Ismailian in Urmia Central Prison are facing amputation sentences.'