Iran executes Mehdi Hassani & Behrouz Ehsani in Ghezel Hesar Prison,violating judicial justice with unfair trials and torture.
Iran Human Rights Organization, Sunday, July 27, 2025 – Iran’s execution of Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani in Ghezel Hesar Prison on July 27, 2025, shocks the global community. These political prisoners faced death sentences after a flawed judicial process.
In late September 2024, Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani to death. The charges included rebellion, waging war against God, corruption on earth, membership in the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, collecting classified information, and conspiracy against national security. However, the trial lasted mere minutes, raising serious fairness concerns. The Supreme Court upheld the sentences on January 7, 2025, without an appeal hearing. Consequently, their transfer to Ghezel Hesar Prison in January signaled imminent execution.
The judicial process for Hassani and Ehsani breached international fair trial standards. Authorities subjected both men to prolonged solitary confinement
and torture to extract forced confessions. For example, Ehsani endured 50 days in solitary confinement in Evin Prison’s Ward 240, facing psychological torture and family threats. Similarly, Hassani suffered six months of solitary confinement and coercion. Their access to independent lawyers remained limited, and the trial lacked transparency. Amnesty International condemned these violations, highlighting the absence of due process. Furthermore, the Supreme Court rejected retrial requests without reviewing case files, deepening the injustice.
Who Was Behrouz Ehsani?
Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlu, born in 1955 in Urmia, was 70 years old at his execution. A high school graduate and freelancer, he lived in Tehran, supporting his wife, two children, and elderly mother. Authorities arrested him in November 2022 during Iran’s nationwide protests. Initially, they held him in Evin Prison’s Ward 209, where he faced three and a half months of torture. Later, officials moved him to Ward 4. Ehsani, a former 1980s political prisoner, boldly declared after sentencing, “I will not bargain over my life. I am ready to sacrifice it for the liberation of the Iranian people.” His courage inspired many, yet his execution marks a tragic loss.
Who Was Mehdi Hassani?
Mehdi Hassani, born in 1976 in Zanjan, was 48 years old and a father of three. Authorities arrested him on September 11, 2022, in Zanjan, transferring him to Evin Prison’s Ward 209. He endured prolonged physical and psychological torture before moving to Ward 8. Hassani actively joined the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, advocating against Iran’s death penalty. His charges mirrored Ehsani’s, reflecting the regime’s targeting of Mujahedin supporters. His daughter, Maryam Hassani, publicly confirmed the appeal’s rejection, highlighting the family’s anguish.
Global Condemnation of the Executions
The execution of Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani sparked widespread outrage. Amnesty International issued urgent appeals in January 2025, demanding Iran halt the executions and quash the convictions. The organization emphasized the use of torture and unfair trials. Similarly, the European Parliament condemned Iran’s human rights abuses, calling for political prisoners’ release. Protests erupted in Evin Prison’s Ward 4, with inmates chanting against executions. The global legal community also urged action to address Iran’s suppression of dissent.
The transfer of Hassani and Ehsani to this facility in January 2025 raised immediate fears. Reports indicate Iran executed numerous prisoners recently, signaling a surge in executions. The prison’s harsh conditions, including overcrowding, amplify human rights concerns. The executions of Hassani and Ehsani fit a pattern of using capital punishment to suppress dissent.
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