The German Solidarity Committee for a Free Iran (DSFI) has issued an urgent appeal to the international community following the death sentences handed down to three political prisoners in Iran, all of whom are supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The prisoners—Behrouz Ehsani, Mehdi Hassani, and Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani—face execution based on what the DSFI describes as fabricated charges.
The details of the case are particularly alarming. Behrouz Ehsani, 69, was arrested in Tehran on December 6, 2022, and has since been subjected to torture in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. He is currently being held in Ward 4. Mehdi Hassani, 48, was arrested on September 11, 2022, in Zanjan and endured both physical and psychological torture before being moved to Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Both men have been sentenced to death on charges including “waging war against God” and their membership in the MEK.
Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani, 29, a sports champion and boxing coach from Mashhad, was arrested in March 2020. He has also been tortured and was sentenced to death for the third time on September 18, 2024, on charges of “corruption on earth” and “destruction of specific properties.” His execution is imminent.
The DSFI views these sentences as part of a broader strategy by the Iranian regime to suppress political dissent and intimidate critics. The committee expressed grave concern over the lack of a strong international response, which they argue has emboldened the regime to continue its repressive actions.
In their statement, the DSFI calls on the United Nations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union, and its member states to intervene immediately. The committee believes swift international action is crucial in preventing the executions and securing the release of these political prisoners.
The full statement from the DSFI follows: