Iran Human Rights Organization Condemns Death Sentences for Three Political Prisoners

The Iran Human Rights Organization condemned the issuance of death sentences for three political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo, Mehdi Hasani, and Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani, by the Islamic Revolutionary Courts. The organization called for efforts from human rights defenders and the international community to abolish the death sentences for all political prisoners. In a statement on Tuesday, October 3, the organization reacted to the death sentences for Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani on charges of 'baghi, moharebeh, ifsad fil-arz, membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, gathering classified information, and conspiracy against national security' issued by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The statement also noted that Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad issued a death sentence for the third time for Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani, a political prisoner supportive of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, on the charge of 'ifsad fil-arz through deliberate destruction.' The Iran Human Rights Organization, while condemning the death sentences for these three political prisoners, urged human rights defenders and the international community to work towards abolishing the death sentences for all political prisoners. Mehdi Hasani was arrested in Shahrivar 1401 (September 2022) in Zanjan, and Behrouz Ehsani, who is about 70 years old, was also arrested in November of that year at his home in Tehran, and both are currently held in Evin Prison. Mr. Ehsani, in a letter to the 'Tuesdays Against Execution' campaign, stated that after being arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence, he was transferred to 'solitary confinement 240' and 'after three and a half months was taken to Ward 4 of Evin.' He emphasized that 'after 22 months of uncertainty,' the judiciary of the Islamic Republic issued a death sentence for him 'without evidence.' This political prisoner also urged Iranian citizens, international organizations, and human rights advocates to 'act against executions in Iran today, as tomorrow may be too late.' The Iran Human Rights Organization referred to the issuance of the death sentence for Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani in the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mashhad for the third time and cited his lawyer Babak Paknia, who stated, 'This sentence is appealable.' Mr. Vafaee Sani was arrested in Esfand 1398 (February 2020) in Mashhad and has been in prison since then. The organization emphasized that the charges of moharebeh and ifsad fil-arz, which are used for a wide range of crimes, have 'vague definitions,' and the Islamic Revolutionary Court, which handles these charges, is known for 'brief trials and gross violations of the rights of the accused.' The statement stressed that 'Revolutionary Court judges usually use charges like ifsad fil-arz when issuing death sentences based on other charges and available evidence is difficult.' The human rights organization also noted that in the year 2023, from Dey 1401 to Dey 1402 (January 2023 to January 2024), 'at least 39 people,' including 'political prisoners, affiliates of Kurdish opposition groups, religious minorities, and victims of the new policies of the Islamic Republic in combating economic corruption,' have been executed in Iranian prisons on charges of moharebeh and ifsad fil-arz. On the eve of Masoud Pezeshkian's trip to the United Nations, members of the 'Tuesdays Against Execution' campaign urged the UN General Assembly to condemn 'the widespread massacre and execution of prisoners.' Abram Paley, Deputy Special Representative of the United States for Iran, stated in an exclusive interview with the Persian section of Voice of America that the Biden administration will continue to support the people of Iran and hold the Islamic Republic accountable.