Human rights activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani face imminent execution in Iran for their advocacy for freedom and democracy. Sentenced to death in September 2024, they have endured months of solitary confinement and severe torture. Their death sentences, issued in unlawful and unfair trials, were confirmed by Iran’s judiciary in early January 2025.
According to reports, on January 26, 2025, Ehsani and Hassani were secretly transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, where their executions are expected to be carried out. This development has intensified global concern and calls for urgent intervention.
The international community has responded strongly to the imminent executions. Legal experts, former United Nations officials, and numerous parliamentarians have condemned the sentences. On the same day as the prisoners’ transfer, a coalition of 371 distinguished international experts and NGOs sent an urgent letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urging immediate action to prevent the executions.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have also taken a stand, holding a symbolic photo action to demand an immediate halt to executions in Iran. They specifically called on Iranian authorities to stop the executions of Pakhshan Azizi, Behrouz Ehsani, Mehdi Hassani, and Varisheh Moradi. The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentences for Ehsani, Hassani, and Azizi, escalating the urgency of the situation.
The international community must act swiftly to prevent these unjust executions. Human rights organizations, governments, and individuals worldwide are urged to amplify their voices, pressure Iranian authorities, and demand justice for Ehsani, Hassani, and other political prisoners facing imminent execution.
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