In an urgent letter dated September 20, 2024, the Australian Supporters of Democracy in Iran condemned the Iranian regime’s death sentences imposed on political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48. The letter, addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, calls for immediate intervention by the United Nations to stop the executions and secure the release of all political prisoners in Iran.
The group criticized the death sentences, which Tehran’s Revolutionary Court issued under the charges of “waging war against God” and “corruption on earth,” accusing the Iranian government of using violence and fear to suppress political dissent. Ehsani and Hassani were sentenced largely due to their peaceful political activities, including their support for the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). The letter described this move as part of a broader campaign to silence opposition on the anniversary of the 2022 protests.
The group raised concerns over Iran’s continuous violation of international human rights laws, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to a fair trial, freedom from torture, and freedom of expression. They pointed to the regime’s systematic use of arbitrary arrests, torture, and executions, which they claim violate the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
The letter calls on the United Nations to:
- Publicly condemn the sentences and the Iranian regime’s use of the death penalty for political repression.
- Demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ehsani, Hassani, and other political prisoners.
The group also urged the UN Human Rights Council to activate its mechanisms, including Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Iran and extrajudicial executions, to investigate these cases and Tehran’s broader pattern of repression.
The letter was copied to Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and several Australian government officials, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Senators Birmingham, Chandler, and Steele-John.
The full text of the letter follows: