“Iran’s Appalling Execution Plans Require Urgent Action By International Community”

Iran Defies Fair Trials and Torture Concerns to Execute Protestors

The Situation in Iran

The imminent execution of three protesters in Iran has sparked concerns among human rights activists, with Amnesty International calling for urgent action from the international community to prevent their deaths. Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi were convicted and sentenced to death on the charge of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) after allegedly possessing a firearm during protests in Esfahan city following the death in custody of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini.

However, the case against the three protesters was built on the use of forced confessions secured through torture, according to reports. Majid Kazemi has claimed that he was subjected to horrific torture, including beatings and electric shocks, and forced to make false self-incriminating statements. The men’s families were told during a visit to the prison that this would be their last visit, sparking fears that the executions may be carried out imminently.

The Iranian Authorities’ Disregard for Human Rights

Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Diana Eltahawy, has pointed out that the Iranian authorities’ execution of the three protesters is further evidence of their disregard for human rights. The use of the death penalty against the men is seen as revenge and an attempt to terrorize people in Iran into submission. Since April 2023, there has been an execution spree of scores of people in Iran, making the international community’s urgent and bold action all the more necessary.

According to informed sources, the Iranian authorities have taken increasingly violent and extreme measures to quash the protests at any cost, including the torture and execution of those detained. The three protesters’ forced confessions came after being forcibly disappeared and subjected to torture, which is a clear violation of the right to a fair trial. Concerns about torture never investigated, and an absence of due process characterized the protesters’ trial and sentencing, which was fast-tracked through the judicial system.

The Call for Urgent Action

Amnesty International has called on the international community to act urgently to prevent the executions of the three protesters. The organization demands the immediate establishment of an official moratorium on executions by the Iranian authorities. It further urges all nations to exert universal jurisdiction over Iranian officials reasonably suspected of crimes under international law.

Conclusion

The imminent execution of the three Iranian protesters Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi represents another in a string of violations of human rights by the authorities in Iran. Amnesty International calls on the international community to take urgent, bold action to prevent the use of the death penalty in this case and to establish an official moratorium on executions in Iran. Only such actions can ensure that the country will emerge as a true protector of human rights, and only then can the international community and the Iranian people begin to hold the government accountable for its actions.