The International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ) has expressed grave concern over the recent death sentences imposed on Iranian political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani. Both men, known supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), were sentenced to death by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on charges including “rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, membership in the PMOI, gathering classified information, and conspiracy against national security.”
Ehsani, 69, was arrested in Tehran on December 6, 2022, and tortured in Evin Prison’s notorious Ward 209, a facility controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. He is currently detained in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Hassani, 48, was arrested in Zanjan on September 11, 2022, and subjected to both physical and psychological torture. He is now imprisoned in Ward 8.
The ISJ views these sentences as part of the Iranian regime’s systematic efforts to suppress dissent and intimidate opposition supporters, particularly during sensitive periods such as the anniversary of the 2022 uprisings. The ISJ also criticized the lack of a strong international response, which they believe emboldens the regime to continue these practices.
In its statement, the ISJ calls on the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights organizations to intervene immediately to secure the release of Ehsani, Hassani, and other political prisoners. The ISJ also advocates for the deployment of an Independent Impartial Fact-Finding Mission (FMII) to visit Iranian prisons, meet with political prisoners, and report on human rights abuses within these facilities.
Citing Amnesty International’s report that Iran accounted for 74% of all global executions last year, the ISJ urged the European Union to reconsider its diplomatic engagement with the Iranian regime, insisting that relations be conditioned on a verifiable halt to executions. The ISJ stresses that immediate international intervention is vital to saving lives and demonstrating a global commitment to human rights.
The full ISJ statement follows:
