In yet another attempt by Iran’s regime to mask its crimes against political activists under a legal pretense, a recent report submitted by the judiciary to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reveals yet another layer of the systematic and nationwide crackdown on freedom-seekers. This time, the justification centers around the execution sentences handed down to two political prisoners, Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani—activists whose charges are based not on justice, but on a strategy of intimidation and suppression of dissent.
The 12-page report by the so-called “Human Rights Headquarters of the Judiciary”—which laughably introduces itself as the “High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran”—is a web of contradictions and lies aimed at legitimizing the executions. The Iranian regime claims in the report that since 2022, some street protests, allegedly involving groups such as the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and domestic collaborators, have led to terrorist activities.
The regime further claims that Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani were arrested as the “main planners and perpetrators” of these acts and lists serious charges against them, including:
- Membership in the PMOI/MEK
- Propaganda against the regime
- Chanting anti-regime slogans
- Insulting state officials
- Collecting classified information
- Producing and sending videos to opposition media
- Participating in live programs on affiliated networks
- Establishing safe houses
- Destruction of public property
- Constructing launchers and mortars
- Possession of firearms
These allegations pointless to a fair judicial process and more to fabricated national security cases and forced confessions.
Blatant contradiction by the Iranian regime
On one hand, the regime has consistently claimed in international forums that the PMOI has no presence in Iran. Yet in this very official report, it amplifies and dramatizes the group’s activities to justify the executions.
The regime’s judiciary claims that these sentences “do not contradict the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” and that “all principles of fair trial have been upheld.” It also calls the allegations of torture and forced confessions “completely unfounded,” insisting that there are no signs of torture in the case files.
The absurdity lies in the regime citing its own constitution, which declares that “torture is prohibited,” despite thousands of documented cases of torture, inhumane treatment, prolonged solitary confinement, and denial of legal counsel reported by international human rights organizations.
The regime also claims that the defendants “had official legal representation throughout the proceedings.” However, in national security cases, defendants are only allowed to choose attorneys from a list approved by the head of the judiciary—effectively stripping them of the right to independent legal counsel.
Meanwhile, Iran’s regime has been condemned at least 71 times in international forums for systematic human rights violations.
Iran’s regime cannot quell the wave of protests through repression and executions. On the contrary, such actions only deepen its political and international isolation. The issuance of death sentences for Mehdi Hasani and Behrouz Ehsani is merely one more page in the regime’s extensive record of human rights abuses.
