National Council of Resistance of Iran Reports Sentencing of Two Supporters of the Mojahedin-e Khalq to Death

On Wednesday, September 19, the National Council of Resistance of Iran reported that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has sentenced two political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, who are supporters of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, to death. This sentence was issued by Judge Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, and was communicated to the lawyer of the two political prisoners. The report indicates that Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani were sentenced to death on charges of 'rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, membership in the Mojahedin, gathering classified information, and conspiracy against national security.' According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran's website, 69-year-old Behrouz Ehsani was arrested on December 6, 2022, in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic, where he was tortured. He is currently in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. The council added that 48-year-old Mehdi Hasani was arrested on September 11, 2022, in Zanjan and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin, where he was subjected to 'physical and psychological torture.' He is currently in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. The National Council of Resistance of Iran has called on the United Nations, human rights defenders, the European Union, and its member states to take 'immediate action for the release of political prisoners and to save the lives of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, as well as other prisoners at risk of execution.' The council emphasized the necessity of an international fact-finding mission visiting Iranian prisons and meeting with prisoners, especially political prisoners. In recent days, death sentences have also been issued for several political prisoners, including Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, and Pakhshan Azizi, a civil activist. The issuance of death sentences for prisoners, especially political prisoners, by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has drawn widespread criticism globally. French unions have called for the release of imprisoned labor and professional activists in Iran. At least six prisoners were executed simultaneously with the hunger strike of prisoners in the campaign 'Tuesdays Against Execution' in Shiraz and Gorgan. The European Union, on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, called for accountability for those responsible for violence and human rights violations in Iran. Exclusive; Abram Pili: The U.S. continues to support the people of Iran and hold the Islamic Republic accountable. The U.S. confirmed the findings of the UN fact-finding committee regarding 'the repression of women in Iran.'