Warning About the Execution of Two Political Prisoners in the Coming Days

The Iran Human Rights Organization reported the transfer of Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo and Mehdi Hasani, detainees from the 2022 protests, to an unknown location and expressed concern about the imminent execution of their sentences. Mr. Hasani's son announced on Sunday, January 27, that his father had been transferred to Qazal Hesar prison and reported that the Islamic Republic 'intends to take his father's life.' These two prisoners, identified by human rights media as 'supporters of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization,' were previously sentenced to death in late September 2023 by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, and membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization. The Iran Human Rights Organization has warned that given the current political climate, the likelihood of executing their sentences and those of other prisoners with similar charges is high. According to 'informed sources,' it was reported that as of the morning of Sunday, January 27, Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo, 69, and Mehdi Hasani, 48, have been transferred to solitary confinement for the execution of their sentences, which is expected to take place in the coming days. Maryam Hasani, Mehdi Hasani's daughter, stated on her social media account that her family still does not know whether Mr. Hasani has been moved to the political prisoners' section in Qazal Hesar prison or remains in solitary confinement, urging the public to be his voice. Meanwhile, Mostafa Nili, Behrouz Ehsani Islamloo's lawyer, announced on Sunday on social media that a request for retrial for this prisoner was submitted last week and referred to one of the branches of the Supreme Court on Saturday morning. According to Article 478 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the execution of a death sentence must be halted, but in similar cases, executions have occurred despite requests for retrial. Behrouz Ehsani was arrested in Tehran in the fall of 2022, and Mehdi Hasani was arrested in Zanjan in the same year, both sentenced to death in a joint case on political charges. These two prisoners have been deprived of access to a lawyer and contact with their families during their long detention in solitary confinement and under pressure for forced confessions. The Iran Human Rights Organization, expressing concern about the imminent execution of their sentences, has called on the international community and human rights organizations to respond to prevent these executions and increase the political cost of such actions. Experts and human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the significant increase in the number of executions in Iran, urging the Islamic Republic to immediately halt the execution of all death penalty sentences.