Transfer of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani to Death Row at Qazalhasar Prison

Human rights media have reported the transfer of two political prisoners in Iran, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, to the death row section of Qazalhasar Prison. According to some reports, these two death row inmates were moved on Thursday, February 11, from the secure section of Qazalhasar Prison to 'Hall 1, Block 10, Unit 3' of this prison, where inmates 'under death sentence' are held. Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani were previously transferred to the 'secure section' on February 7, but a day later, their lawyers announced that the execution of their death sentences had been halted following the acceptance of a retrial by the Supreme Court. These two political prisoners were sentenced to death in late September 2023 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. This sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on January 18 without going through the appeals process. Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo, a 70-year-old political prisoner, was arrested at his home in November 2022 amid nationwide protests and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Intelligence. He was moved to Ward 4 of Evin three and a half months later and, after 22 months of uncertainty, was sentenced to death in late September 2023 on charges of 'rebellion, waging war against God, and corruption on earth, membership in the Mojahedin Organization, collecting classified information, and conspiracy against national security.' Mehdi Hasani, born in 1976 in Zanjan, was arrested on September 20, 2022, in Zanjan County and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The charges against Mehdi Hasani include 'rebellion, waging war against God, and corruption on earth, membership in the Mojahedin Organization, collecting classified information, and conspiracy against national security.' In January, Amnesty International issued an official statement calling for the immediate halt of the death sentences of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani. In its statement, Amnesty International announced that these prisoners had been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including prolonged solitary confinement, and were coerced into confessing, and that their trial by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran was severely unfair. The second year of the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign has begun: the gallows should be dismantled. The halt of Behrouz Ehsani's execution; concerns about the execution of Mehdi Hasani. Amnesty International warned of the risk of execution for the two political prisoners. Concerns are increasing regarding the potential execution of two political prisoners in Evin. Hundreds of civil and political activists have called for the release of political and ideological prisoners. Amnesty International has called for the immediate cancellation of the death sentences of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani.