Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, posted a short message on her X (formerly Twitter) account, calling the amputation of three prisoners at Urmia prison a clear example of “violation of fundamental human rights” and strongly condemned it.
طبق خبری که دریافت کردهام دیروز احکام قطع عضو آقایان هادی رستمی، مهدی شرفیان و مهدی شاهیوند اجرا شدهاند.
این اقدام مثلهسازی مورد حمایت حکومت از مصادیق نقض بارز حقوق اساسی بشر است. مجازاتهای بدنی از جمله قطع عضو، مصداق شکنجه، رفتار ظالمانه و غیرانسانی و تحقیرآمیز است. چنین… https://t.co/6QHHjJWxCQ
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato.bsky.social) (@drmaisato) July 31, 2025
She stated: “According to received information, yesterday the amputation sentences for Messrs. Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharafian, and Mehdi Shahivand were carried out.”
These three prisoners had been sentenced by the court to the amputation of four fingers from their right hand. According to human rights reports, the sentence was carried out on the night of Wednesday, July 30, using a “guillotine” device in the central prison of Urmia.
This punishment was carried out in the presence of judicial officials, including the prison warden and the deputy prosecutor. After the prisoners received local anesthetic injections and underwent the amputations, they were returned to the prison intake ward with only basic bandaging and without full medical treatment.
In response to this act, Mai Sato described it as “state-sanctioned mutilation” and emphasized that corporal punishments such as amputation are “forms of torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.” She added that under international law, including Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “they are absolutely prohibited and no exceptions are allowed.”
The three men were arrested in August 2017 on charges of “theft” and were sentenced to amputation in November 2019 by Branch One of the Criminal Court for Juveniles.
This act has triggered a wave of criticism and concern among human rights organizations and civil society activists both inside Iran and abroad.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran’s regime judiciary, announced on December 7, 2024, that despite both domestic and international pressure on the regime, the highest number of hand amputation sentences in the past three years had been carried out in Iran.
Ejei, who is regarded as one of the prominent violators of human rights in Iran, at the time described amputation as “a decree issued by God” and added that this punishment continues to be enforced in Iran despite pressure from various organizations.
The issuance and enforcement of amputation sentences in Iran are in clear contradiction with the fundamental principles of human rights, including human dignity. This is despite the fact that Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—an international treaty that explicitly prohibits cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishments.
The sentence of amputation is undoubtedly one of these types of punishments, and its implementation constitutes a direct violation of the principle of preserving human dignity—a principle that forms the foundation of many international human rights instruments.
Iran’s regime is among the few governments that continue to use amputation sentences for certain crimes and, unlike many other countries, has not joined the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Despite repeated appeals from international human rights bodies to end such punishments, Iran’s regime continues to issue and enforce sentences such as flogging and amputation of limbs—sentences that are contrary to human rights standards and a cause for serious concern within the global community.
