On December 16, 2024, the Iranian judiciary issued new sentences against political prisoners and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), Mohammad and Mehdi Khodakarami. These sentences include one year of imprisonment and two years of exile to Meybod and Hendijan, respectively, on charges such as “propaganda against the regime in favor of opposition and hostile groups.” Additionally, the judiciary has imposed strict restrictions, explicitly prohibiting the use of mobile phones and electronic devices. The brothers received their verdicts electronically, with a stipulation barring the issuance of physical copies of the rulings.
Background of the Khodakarami Brothers’ Case
Mohammad Khodakarami, 32, and Mehdi Khodakarami, 42, are currently held in Parsilon Prison in Khorramabad. Their ordeal began in March 2023, when they were arrested in Tehran and subjected to severe torture in the notorious Evin Prison. Following their initial detention, the judiciary sentenced them to eight and four years of imprisonment, respectively, on charges of “membership in the PMOI” and “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”
Over recent months, the judiciary has been actively fabricating new cases against the brothers. Two online trials, held on November 20 and December 8, 2024, were marked by irregularities and blatant violations of legal standards. For example, the November 20 session was conducted via a prison guard’s phone, during which the purported judge repeatedly questioned the brothers about their support for the PMOI. The judge claimed, “This organization is finished,” in an attempt to discredit their resistance.
Brutality in Detention
The Khodakarami brothers’ suffering has not been confined to judicial persecution. On May 9, 2024, they joined other inmates in protesting water cuts and other inhumane restrictions at Khorramabad Central Prison. The protest was met with brutal repression by prison authorities, led by warden Golabetoon and head of security Rashidi. During the crackdown, several prisoners, including the Khodakarami brothers, were severely beaten, resulting in broken limbs for some detainees. Following the protest, the brothers were transferred to solitary confinement and later exiled to Parsilon Prison on May 21, 2024, under accusations of inciting unrest and supporting the “No to Execution Tuesdays” hunger strike, an initiative aligned with the PMOI’s call for justice.
International Urgency
The latest actions against Mohammad and Mehdi Khodakarami underscore the Iranian regime’s continued campaign of repression against political dissidents. These fabricated cases and harsh sentences aim to stifle dissent and intimidate those who challenge the regime’s authority. The Iranian Resistance, led by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has reiterated the urgent need for an international fact-finding mission to visit Iran’s prisons. Such a mission must include meetings with political detainees to investigate the regime’s systematic human rights violations.
The Khodakarami brothers’ plight is emblematic of the broader repression faced by political prisoners in Iran. Their courage in the face of systemic injustice highlights the urgent need for global solidarity and action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its crimes against humanity.
