The French Committee for a Democratic Iran has issued an urgent appeal to prevent the imminent execution of two Iranian political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani. The committee has voiced deep concern over their sudden transfer from Tehran’s Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on January 26, 2025—a move widely regarded as a prelude to execution—sparking alarm among human rights defenders worldwide.
Behrouz Ehsani, 70, a former political prisoner from the 1980s, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, a father of three, were arrested in 2022 and sentenced to death by Iran’s Revolutionary Court on September 16, 2024. They were convicted on politically motivated charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and “efsad-e-fel-arz” (corruption on earth). Despite international protests against their unjust imprisonment, the Supreme Court upheld their sentences on January 7, 2025.
Amnesty International has condemned these sentences as politically driven and called for their immediate annulment. The organization has also highlighted the regime’s use of the prisoners’ alleged affiliation with the Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), as a pretext for their execution. Furthermore, the European Parliament has denounced Iran’s systematic human rights violations and continues to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.
The forced transfer of Ehsani and Hassani triggered a strong response from fellow inmates in Evin Prison’s Ward 4, who protested in solidarity, chanting anti-regime slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “If you execute them, we will rise.” This outcry reflects the growing resistance to the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of dissent.
The French Committee for a Democratic Iran is calling on the French government and international organizations to use all diplomatic means to halt these executions. The committee warns that urgent action is needed and emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and increasing pressure on the Iranian authorities. It is also urging European institutions to impose targeted sanctions on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials responsible for these blatant human rights violations.
“Silence in the face of such grave human rights abuses is unacceptable. Every hour counts in the fight to save these individuals,” said Jean-Pierre Brard, President of the French Committee for a Democratic Iran.