Call for Immediate Action to Save Political Prisoners Facing Execution
The judiciary of the regime has sentenced two political prisoners, supporters of the PMOI (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran), Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, to death. This sentence, which has been communicated to their lawyer, was issued by the notorious judge “Iman Afshari,” head of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. These two political prisoners have been convicted on charges of “rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, membership in the PMOI, gathering classified information, and conspiracy against national security.”
Behrouz Ehsani, 69, was arrested on December 6, 2022, in Tehran and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention center (Ward 209 of Evin Prison), where he was subjected to torture. He is currently held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison.
Mehdi Hassani, 48, was arrested on September 11, 2022, in Zanjan and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin, where he was subjected to physical and psychological torture. He is currently imprisoned in Ward 8 of Evin.
In a statement on April 8, 2024, the Iranian Resistance announced the arrests of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani and stated that the regime’s prosecutor had requested death sentences for a number of political prisoners, including these two.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, previously stated that the regime seeks to prevent a popular uprising demanding its overthrow by carrying out executions and killings, especially on the anniversary of the 2022 uprising. She added that the regime interprets the international community’s inaction in the face of this wave of executions as a green light to continue its crimes and violations of international law.
The Iranian Resistance once again calls on the United Nations, all human rights defenders, as well as the European Union and its member states, to take urgent action to free political prisoners and save the lives of Behrouz Ehsani, Mehdi Hassani, and others facing execution. It also reiterates the necessity for an international fact-finding mission to visit Iran’s prisons and meet with prisoners, especially political prisoners.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
17 September 2024
