Human rights experts urge Iran to halt executions and investigate torture allegations
A group of United Nations human rights experts has raised the alarm over the imminent risk of execution of six Iranian political prisoners convicted after trials described as grossly unfair and tainted by torture.
In a recent communication with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I raised grave concern about the cases of Babak Alipour, Vahid Bani Amerian, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, Pouya Ghobadi, Abolhassan Montazer and Seyyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, who reportedly face…
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato) November 5, 2025
In a formal communication addressed to the Iranian regime, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, joined by mandates on torture, extrajudicial executions, freedom of religion or belief, and enforced disappearances, expressed “grave concern” about the fate of Babak Alipour, Vahid Bani Amerian, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar, Pouya Ghobadi, Abolhassan Montazer, and Seyyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, all of whom face execution for baghi (armed rebellion) due to their alleged association with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Arrests Marred by Violence and Torture
The letter details a series of violations beginning with the men’s arrests between December 2023 and February 2024, during which no warrants were presented, and several detainees were severely beaten or shot. Reports indicate that the detainees were subjected to “prolonged incommunicado detention, solitary confinement, and physical and psychological torture.”
According to the experts, interrogators threatened the men with summary execution and coerced them into videotaped confessions. Instances of torture included flogging, beatings targeting vulnerable areas, denial of medical care, and forced exposure to cold. One prisoner, Abolhassan Montazer, suffered complications from earlier heart surgery due to violent assault, while Babak Alipour was reportedly denied the right to practice his religion.
Unfair Trial and Death Sentences
All six defendants were tried jointly before Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on October 6, 2024. The proceedings, lasting only minutes, allegedly relied on forced confessions and denied access to defense lawyers until the day of trial.
On November 30, 2024, the court sentenced all six men to death, with several also receiving lengthy prison terms. Despite appeals lodged with Iran’s Supreme Court, the experts warned that similar cases have been fast-tracked to execution without proper review, placing the prisoners at immediate risk.
Following the June 2025 Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison, the men were transferred first to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary and later to Ghezel Hesar Prison, notorious as one of Iran’s primary execution sites. Their current isolation there, the experts said, heightens fears of imminent execution.
Violations of International Law
The UN communication cites multiple breaches of international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Iran in 1975. The experts emphasized that imposing the death penalty following an unfair trial violates Articles 6 and 14 of the ICCPR and constitutes an “arbitrary deprivation of life.”
The letter also recalls Iran regime’s obligations under the Convention Against Torture, the Nelson Mandela Rules, and the UN Safeguards for the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty, underscoring that prolonged solitary confinement and coerced confessions amount to torture and render any resulting death sentence unlawful.
The experts further condemned the denial of medical treatment, religious rights, and contact with family members, calling these acts violations of the right to health and human dignity.
UN Calls for Immediate Action
The rapporteurs urged Tehran to take “all necessary interim measures” to prevent irreparable harm and stay the executions, ensure independent investigations into torture allegations, and guarantee fair-trial rights in accordance with international standards.
They also requested detailed information from the Iranian regime authorities on the status of the cases, the reasons for transferring the prisoners to Ghezel Hesar, and the current conditions of their detention and health.
The experts warned that unless credible steps are taken, they may publicly express their concerns through a joint statement to alert the international community.
Growing International Outcry
The communication comes amid an escalating pattern of executions in Iran, including political prisoners and dissidents. Human rights groups have documented a surge in death sentences linked to alleged “rebellion” and “espionage” charges against individuals accused of affiliation with the PMOI or participation in anti-government protests.
The UN experts reiterated that “the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life is non-derogable, regardless of political instability or any other public emergency.”
