In a letter dated September 19, 2024, Judy A. Sgro, a Member of Parliament from Canada, has called on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to take immediate action to prevent the executions of two Iranian political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48. Both men, sentenced to death by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, are accused of supporting opposition movements, particularly in connection with the 2022 protests in Iran.
Sgro expressed deep concern over the torture and unjust charges faced by the two men, citing their treatment as a violation of fundamental human rights and Iran’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). As a signatory to the ICCPR, Iran’s regime is expected to protect the right to life and ensure fair trials, yet these principles have been systematically violated, Sgro stated.
The Canadian MP urged the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, to publicly condemn the death sentences and pursue diplomatic measures to prevent the executions. She also called for the release of all political prisoners in Iran and the initiation of an international fact-finding mission to investigate the conditions of political detainees.
The full text of the letter follows:
