Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic Confirms Death Sentences for Three Political Prisoners

News sources have reported that the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic confirmed the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, and Mehdi Hasani, three political prisoners held in Evin Prison. Amir Reysian, the lawyer for Pakhshan Azizi, announced on Wednesday, January 19, that the death sentence for this political prisoner was confirmed in Branch 39 of the Supreme Court 'without regard to the numerous defects in the case.' Mr. Reysian stated that following the issuance of the death sentence in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran for his client, he had requested a review, but unfortunately, during the re-examination of the case in the Supreme Court, 'the appeal was rejected and the death sentence was confirmed without attention to the numerous defects in the case.' According to this lawyer, 'none of the objections raised regarding Pakhshan Azizi's case were addressed by the Supreme Court, and the court ignored both formal and substantive defects in the case. There was no attention to the deficiencies in the investigations, nor to the documents and evidence indicating that Ms. Azizi's case was not suitable for a death sentence, and that her activities in northern Syria in the Shingal refugee camp and other refugee camps from the ISIS war were peaceful and fundamentally non-political, centered around humanitarian aid against ISIS attacks.' Pakhshan Azizi's lawyer had also previously stated that 'the evidence and documents against' his client 'were so unreliable that merely examining them would have led to the dismissal of the charge of rebellion,' but despite this, 'although innocence and acquittal do not need to be proven, we had submitted credible documents to the Supreme Court.' The legal advisory group Dadban analyzed this political prisoner's case, stating: 'The evidence and documents in the case clearly show that the death sentence issued based on the charge of rebellion was issued based on fabricated evidence and unrealistic documentation, and the evidence clearly indicates the lack of substantiation of the issued sentence.' According to this human rights group, 'the documents publicly released by Pakhshan Azizi's lawyers show that this social worker was active as a social aid worker and volunteer in relief organizations in Syria from 2014 until her second arrest in 2023.' Pakhshan Azizi was sentenced to death and four years in prison on August 24 of this year by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, on the charge of 'rebellion through membership in opposing groups.' Additionally, the Human Rights Activists in Iran reported that the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic confirmed the death sentences of Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hasani. According to information received by HRANA, the death sentence was communicated to the lawyers of these two political prisoners on Tuesday, January 18. Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hasani were sentenced to death in late September on charges of 'rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, collecting classified information, and conspiracy against national security' in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court chaired by Iman Afshari. 'Membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization' is among the charges attributed to these two prisoners. Currently, at least 54 'political and security' prisoners, including Varisheh Moradi, are facing death sentences in the prisons of the Islamic Republic on charges including 'rebellion, waging war against God, and corruption on earth.' The Islamic Republic executed at least 883 people in 2024. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the increase in executions in Iran. The 'No to Executions on Tuesdays' campaign reported the execution of 21 people coinciding with the beginning of the new Gregorian year. Twelve political prisoners warned of a 'humanitarian disaster' in Qazal Hesar. An exclusive letter from a prisoner doctor on the anniversary of the execution of protesters stated, 'No government can remain in power through oppression.'