The European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) has added its support to an open letter urging the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to intervene in the impending executions of Iranian political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani.
Alexis Anagnostakis, ECBA’s Human Rights Officer, along with 302 international figures, has endorsed this urgent call to save the lives of these two activists.
Both Ehsani and Hassani are known for their peaceful advocacy against the death penalty, particularly through their involvement in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. However, following a deeply criticized legal process, they are now facing imminent execution. Despite their legal representatives filing an emergency motion for a retrial, the Iranian regime’s judiciary, known for its lack of transparency and fairness, makes it uncertain whether due process will be honored.
European Criminal Bar Association signs open letter to UN High Commissioner @Volker_Turk against death penalty in Iran for Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani
CC: @drmaisato @DavidLammy @kajakallas #SaveMehdiHassani #SaveBehrouzEhsani #StopExecutionsInIran pic.twitter.com/0Yn6GPSKBm
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) February 3, 2025
The ECBA, joined by human rights groups worldwide, is urging UN High Commissioner Volker Türk and UN Special Rapporteur Dr. Mai Sato to take swift action to prevent these executions.
The ECBA calls on the international community to:
- Read and share the open letter
- Raise awareness on social media using the hashtags #SaveMehdiHassani #SaveBehrouzEhsani #StopExecutionsInIran
“The global legal community cannot stay silent while these men face an unjust death sentence,” the ECBA stated. “Immediate action is essential to prevent this serious human rights violation.”