Several Human Rights Organizations Call for Immediate Cancellation of Death Sentences for 4 Political Prisoners in Ahvaz

More than 10 human rights organizations issued a joint statement demanding the immediate cancellation of death sentences against 4 political prisoners sentenced to death in Sepidar prison in Ahvaz, their access to appointed lawyers, the possibility of family visits, and fair and public trials. Previously, several human rights organizations along with civil and human rights activists reported that Ali Majdam, Moein Khonfari, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, and Adnan Ghabishavi (Mousavi) had been transferred to solitary confinement for the execution of their death sentences. The statement, published on Tuesday, November 1, stated: 'In the midst of military tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel and public concern about the onset of a widespread war between the two countries, 4 Arab political prisoners from Ahvaz have been moved to solitary confinement in Sepidar prison. These citizens, who have been sentenced to death in a vague case without fair trials, are at risk of inhumane execution.' The signatories of the statement noted the Islamic Republic's political use of the death penalty, adding that this policy has always been the regime's response to significant political and social events in Iran. They also referenced statistics on executions in Iran, stating: 'In recent years, the number of executions carried out in Iran has had a disproportionate relationship with the demographic composition of the country, with Arabs, Baluchs, and Kurds bearing a higher share of political executions relative to their population.' The organizations and groups signing the statement wrote: 'Now, in the midst of a significant political and social event (Iran's military conflict with Israel) that could threaten the survival of this regime, the Islamic Republic has used execution as a tool to prove its ability to continue exercising coercive power and to create public fear and terror.' They added: 'In a pattern that has been repeated multiple times before, the Islamic Republic has once again targeted citizens who have less widespread support and media coverage.' The statement emphasized that an examination of the cases of Ali Majdam, Moein Khonfari, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, and Adnan Ghabishavi (Mousavi) by the Karun Human Rights Organization shows that in their cases, 'the right to a fair trial has been violated, indiscriminate violence was used during their arrest, the accused were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment to obtain forced confessions, and the families of some of the accused experienced detention, threats, and harassment to pressure them. The accused were deprived of access to appointed lawyers, and despite being aware of the confessions obtained under torture, the court used their forced confessions as the basis for its ruling.' According to these human rights organizations and groups, these 4 political prisoners have been arrested and sentenced to death as a result of the continuation of discriminatory policies and widespread and systematic repression by the Islamic Republic against political opponents and cultural and civil activists in Iran. They called on other human rights organizations, international bodies, and UN officials to intervene immediately, actively, and effectively to help abolish the inhumane death penalty in Iran and prevent the unlawful execution of Ali Majdam, Moein Khonfari, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, and Adnan Ghabishavi (Mousavi). The statement was signed by the Karun Human Rights Organization, Tohra, Turkmen Sahra human rights activists, Halvash, the Kurdish human rights organization Kurdpa, the Organization for the Defense of Free Information, the Baloch Activists Campaign, and the Hana Human Rights Organization. According to reports, on February 14, 2023, Branch 4 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz sentenced these 4 political prisoners to death on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God), and the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, officially announced the issuance of the death sentences for these political prisoners on March 6 of the same year for the alleged killing of two Basij members, a police officer, and a soldier. The charges against these 4 prisoners and their two co-defendants are 'the murder of 4 security agents' in Khorramshahr and Sirjan, while human rights organizations emphasize that they were tortured for forced confessions and sentenced to death on charges of baghi (armed rebellion). The transfer of these prisoners to solitary confinement has occurred for the second time, and in May 2023, the Iran Human Rights Organization had also reported that '6 Arab political prisoners from Ahvaz, sentenced to death on security charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in Shiban prison in Ahvaz for execution.' This organization had named these political prisoners as Ali Majdam, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, Adnan Mousavi Ghabishavi, Salim Mousavi Albooshokeh, Moein Khonfari, and Habib Daris. Continued reactions to the potential execution of 4 political prisoners in Ahvaz; a human rights organization stated: this punishment is government-sanctioned murder. A human rights organization expressed concern over the potential execution of 4 political prisoners in Ahvaz. Shiban prison in Ahvaz joined the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign. Seven political prisoners in Ahvaz went on hunger strike in protest against 14 months of uncertainty.