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Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Action to Halt Execution of Six Iranian Political Prisoners

Amnesty International has issued an urgent appeal to stop the execution of six Iranian men sentenced to death after a trial marred by allegations of torture and grave violations of fair trial rights. The men—Abolhassan Montazer, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Pouya Ghobadi, and Vahid Bani Amerian—were convicted of “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi) by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court in October 2024. Amnesty International has described their detention and trial as emblematic of the Iranian judiciary’s deeply flawed processes.

The six men, aged between 31 and 65, were arrested between December 2023 and February 2024 in Tehran and West Azerbaijan provinces. They were accused of affiliation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). During interrogations in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, the men were subjected to severe torture, including beatings, floggings, death threats at gunpoint, and prolonged solitary confinement. These methods were allegedly used to extract forced “confessions,” which were later used against them in court.

Amnesty International reports that some defendants met their lawyers for the first time during a single two-hour trial session. Several defendants testified in court that their confessions were obtained under torture, but the court ignored these allegations and refused to investigate.

Health and Treatment Concerns

The detained men have been denied adequate medical care, exacerbating existing health conditions caused by torture and poor prison conditions. Vahid Bani Amerian, for example, sustained eye injuries during his arrest, and Abolhassan Montazer experienced severe chest and lung pain due to beatings and exposure to freezing temperatures in unheated cells. Pouya Ghobadi and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi were also subjected to lengthy interrogations while being denied critical medications.

The case underscores a growing trend in Iran where authorities increasingly use the death penalty as a tool to suppress dissent. Following the 2022 uprising and continuing through 2024, Iranian courts, particularly Revolutionary Courts, have issued harsh sentences—including death—against protesters, dissidents, and ethnic minorities in proceedings widely condemned as unfair.

Amnesty International’s Call to Action

Amnesty International has urged Iranian authorities to:

  1. Immediately halt the executions of the six men.
  2. Quash their convictions and death sentences, as their detention is arbitrary and violates international standards of a fair trial.
  3. Conduct an independent investigation into allegations of torture and hold perpetrators accountable.
  4. Ensure the men have access to adequate medical care and allow meaningful contact with their families and legal counsel.
  5. Impose a moratorium on executions with a view toward abolishing the death penalty.

The organization has also called on the international community to amplify pressure on Iranian authorities to address these violations and protect the rights of all detainees.

Urgency of Action

Amnesty International warns that time is running out to prevent the executions. The organization emphasizes that the death penalty is a violation of the right to life as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and constitutes the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment.

This case represents yet another example of Iran’s systemic abuse of the death penalty and disregard for human rights. As the international community continues to condemn these practices, Amnesty International stresses the need for immediate action to save the lives of these six men and prevent further injustices under Iran’s judicial system.