Christian Advocacy Now

Dear Mr Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei,

I am gravely concerned that at least 10 people are at risk of executions in connection with the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising that started in September 2022, amid grave concerns about the imposition of death sentences on more individuals as authorities arrested and indicted thousands in connection to the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising. Among them are Fazel Bahramian, Manouchehr Mehman Navaz, Mehran Bahramian, Milad Armoun, Alireza Kafaei, Amir Mohammad Khosheghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, Alireza Bamerzpournak and Mehrab (Mehran) Abdullahzadeh – currently under sentence of death and at risk of execution following grossly unfair trials involving convictions on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh), “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi) and “murder.” At least one other person—Mojahed (Abbas) Kourkouri – is facing further proceedings after the Supreme Court overturned his conviction and death sentence in December 2024. On 6 August 2024, authorities arbitrarily executed Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei in secret without prior notice to him, his family or lawyer, according to an informed source. Amnesty International is aware of at least two others – Saeed Shirazi and Abolfazl Mehri Hossein Hajilou—who were tried on capital charges.

The aforementioned individuals have faced grossly unfair trials before Revolutionary Courts and/or Criminal Courts in different parts of the country including in the provinces of Tehran, Esfahan, Khuzestan and West Azerbaijan. Authorities violated their right to a fair trial, including the right to: adequate defence and access to lawyers of their choosing; the presumption of innocence; remain silent; meaningfully challenge the legality of their detentions; and receive a fair, public hearing. The courts have used torture-tainted “confessions,” some of which were broadcast on state media prior to their trials, to convict them. Methods of torture and other ill-treatment documented by Amnesty International against some of the aforementioned individuals include beatings, electric shocks, suffocation, sexual violence and deliberate denial of healthcare. I urge you to immediately quash all convictions and death sentences stemming from the protests, refrain from further death sentences and ensure that anyone charged with a recognizable criminal offence is tried in proceedings meeting international fair trial standards without resort to the death penalty. I call on you to immediately and unconditionally release all those convicted and sentenced to death, indicted, or undergoing investigations solely for the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. I further urge you to provide those detained access to their families and lawyers of their choosing, protect them from further torture and other ill-treatment and investigate torture allegations, bringing anyone found responsible to justice in fair trials. I urge you to grant independent observers access to capital trials and individuals on death row connected to protests and, more broadly, immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view of abolishing the death penalty.

Yours sincerely,