The New York City Bar Association (“City Bar”) has expressed grave concern over the death sentences imposed on Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani by the Islamic Republic of Iran. These sentences, issued in connection with their peaceful activism and alleged affiliation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), constitute a blatant violation of international human rights law and exemplify the Iranian government’s systematic suppression of dissent. The City Bar is particularly alarmed by reports that Ehsani and Hassani have been transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison, where they face imminent execution.

Background and Charges

Behrouz Ehsani, a 69-year-old political prisoner, was arrested on December 6, 2022, in Tehran and subjected to torture in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. He was previously held in Ward 4. Mehdi Hassani, a 48-year-old political prisoner, was arrested on September 11, 2022, in Zanjan and endured physical and psychological torture in Ward 209 before being moved to Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Both individuals were charged with politically motivated offenses, including “rebellion (baghi),” “waging war against God (moharebeh),” and “spreading corruption on Earth,” along with allegations of illegal weapons possession and possessing classified information.

Ehsani and Hassani were prominent figures in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, a grassroots movement opposing Iran’s excessive use of capital punishment. While detained, they wrote letters urging the international community to abolish the death penalty and highlighted the inhumane conditions they endured in Evin Prison.

Arrests, Sentencing, and Transfers

After their detention in Ward 209, Hassani was moved to Ward 8, while Ehsani endured three and a half months of solitary confinement in Ward 240 before being transferred to Ward 4. On September 16, 2024, both were sentenced to death on politically motivated charges. Their sentences were confirmed on January 7, 2025. Recent reports indicate their transfer to Ghezel Hesar Prison, notorious for frequent executions, placing them at immediate risk.

On January 11, 2025, 68 political prisoners in Iran issued a letter condemning these sentences as “state-sponsored premeditated murder,” noting that Iran accounted for nearly 75% of global executions in 2024. Judge Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, who presided over their cases, has a documented history of imposing severe sentences on political prisoners.

Systemic Due Process Violations

The cases of Ehsani and Hassani highlight the Iranian government’s widespread violations of due process and fair trial standards, including:

  • Denial of legal counsel and fair trials;
  • Physical and psychological torture, including coerced confessions;
  • Prolonged solitary confinement and medical neglect;
  • Summary trials resulting in corporal punishment or execution.

Evin Prison, where they were initially detained, is infamous for overcrowding, lack of hygiene, forced drugging, and inadequate nutrition. Political prisoners face particularly harsh treatment. Ghezel Hesar Prison, where they are now held, is equally notorious for its brutal conditions and frequent executions.

Violations of International Law

The Iranian government’s actions violate multiple international legal frameworks, including:

  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Articles prohibiting torture, arbitrary detention, and ensuring fair trials;
  • Convention Against Torture (CAT): A peremptory norm of international law, even though Iran is not a signatory;
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Prohibitions on torture and guarantees of fair trials;
  • UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, ensuring humane treatment and access to legal representation.

The City Bar underscores that the right to dissent is a fundamental human right under Article 19 of both the ICCPR and the UDHR. The Iranian government’s persecution of Ehsani and Hassani for their peaceful activism is a flagrant violation of this right.

Call to Action

The New York City Bar Association urges the Iranian government to:

  • Immediately halt the executions of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, overturn their convictions, and release them unconditionally;
  • End the criminalization of dissent and guarantee detainees access to legal counsel, medical care, and humane treatment;
  • Comply with international human rights obligations, including the ICCPR and the Convention Against Torture.

The City Bar also calls on the international community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, to hold the Iranian government accountable for its egregious human rights violations and take urgent action to prevent the executions of Ehsani and Hassani.

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