April 25, 2025 — London
The British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) issued an urgent appeal this week, warning of the imminent executions of two political prisoners in Iran and calling on the UK Government to intervene.
Behrouz Ehsani, 70, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, both sentenced to death for their alleged support of the democratic opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), are at immediate risk after their final appeals were rejected. Both men were recently transferred to Qezelhessar Prison, a facility notorious for its high rate of executions.
In its statement, the BCFIF stressed the grave urgency of the situation, noting that the death sentences could be carried out at any moment. The Committee highlighted concerns from international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Iran, who have denounced the regime’s use of forced confessions and unfair trials.
“The international community must not remain silent,” warned the UN Special Rapporteur. BCFIF echoed this sentiment, describing the recent surge in executions as part of a deliberate strategy by Iran’s ruling regime to crush dissent, particularly following the widespread uprising of 2022.
The Committee also pointed to the broader, alarming trend of mass executions, drawing parallels to the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. Five other prisoners — Vahid Bani Amerian, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi, and Shahrokh Daneshvarkar — were similarly transferred and face death sentences on charges linked to their affiliation with opposition groups.
BCFIF called on the UK Government to act urgently, urging ministers to impose targeted human rights sanctions against key regime officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. They demanded a principled and sustained response to Iran’s deteriorating human rights situation.
Furthermore, BCFIF renewed its support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for a democratic Iran, which calls for the abolition of the death penalty and the establishment of a secular, democratic republic.
“The UK must intensify its efforts to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its atrocities,” the Committee said. “Time is running out to save these political prisoners, and silence is not an option.”
The British Committee for Iran Freedom’s statement adds to growing international pressure on Tehran, as voices from across the political spectrum in the UK Parliament continue to back calls for a tougher stance on human rights abuses in Iran.
