Iran Human Rights Organization's Call to Prevent the Execution of Saman Mohammadi

On Tuesday, December 26, the Iran Human Rights Organization urged civil society both inside and outside Iran, as well as international bodies, to work to save Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh from the threat of execution. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the director of this organization, stated: "Saman Mohammadi has been sentenced to death without a fair trial and based on a confession obtained under torture, and at this stage, only raising the political cost through global community reactions and civil society protests can save Saman's life." The Iran Human Rights Organization announced that Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, who has been sentenced to death on charges of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God) through membership in an opposition group and connections with foreign services, has been transferred to solitary confinement in Qazalhasar prison in Karaj for the execution of his sentence, which is expected to be carried out in the coming days. Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, now 35 years old, was arrested 15 years ago after the nationwide protests of 2009 in Sanandaj and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Tehran, where he reportedly suffered severe physical and psychological torture and was forced to make false confessions against himself. This political activist was sentenced to death based on confessions obtained under torture in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, on the charge of 'moharebeh.' According to this source, Saman's last visit with his family has taken place, and they have now been informed that their son's death sentence will be carried out on Wednesday morning, December 28. In addition to Saman Mohammadi, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh and six defendants in the case known as the 'Ekbatān children' are also at risk of execution by the Islamic Republic. Concurrently with the issuance of these sentences in Iran, the co-chairs of the 'Iran Human Rights and Democracy Working Group' in the U.S. Congress issued a statement strongly condemning the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners in Iran and called for a halt to these sentences. At least four other executions are reported in the prisons of the Islamic Republic. There is ambiguity regarding the fate of several detained citizens; the IRGC claims they were 'monarchists.' Human rights sources have warned about the possibility of executing two political prisoners. The treatment of Zeinab Jalalian has been halted due to 'obstruction' by prison officials. A report from a human rights organization details the conditions of political prisoners sentenced to death.