In November, The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), in a statement regarding the issuance of death sentences for six political prisoners on charges of “rebellion” (Baghi), called for urgent action by the UN Security Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council and related UN bodies, as well as the European Union and its member states to save their lives and secure the release of all political prisoners.
The six political prisoners—Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistouni, Vahid Bani-Amarian, and Abolhassan Montazer—have been sentenced to death on charges of “Baghi” (armed rebellion) on charges of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Mohammad Taghavi was a political prisoner in the 2000s and 2010s. His brothers, Mojtaba and Ali Taghavi, have been sentenced to imprisonment and exile solely due to their family ties with him.
Iran’s Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentences for Three More Political Prisoners
News sources have also reported that Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of three political prisoners held in Evin Prison: Pakhshan Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, and Mehdi Hassani.
Amir Raeesian, the lawyer of Pakhshan Azizi, announced on Wednesday, January 8, that the Supreme Court’s Branch 39 has confirmed the death sentence for this political prisoner.
Azizi’s lawyer had previously stated that “the evidence and documents against my client were so weak that a simple review would have been enough to dismiss the charge of Baghi.” However, despite this, “even though innocence does not require proof, we had submitted credible documents to the Supreme Court.”
On July 23, 2024, Pakhshan Azizi was sentenced to death and four years in prison by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of “Baghi, through membership in opposition groups.”
Death Sentences for Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani Upheld
Additionally, in a new statement, the NCRI declared that the Iranian regime’s supreme court has upheld the death sentences of Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani.
Their death sentences were officially communicated to their lawyers on Tuesday, January 7.
Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani were sentenced to death in mid-September 2024 by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of “Baghi (armed rebellion), Moharebeh (waging war against God), corruption on earth, gathering classified information, and conspiracy against national security.”
“Membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)” was cited as one of the accusations against these two prisoners.
At Least 54 Political Prisoners on Death Row in Iran
Currently, at least 54 political and security-related prisoners are on death row in Iran, facing charges such as “Baghi (armed rebellion), Moharebeh (waging war against God), and corruption on earth.”
