In Iran, where billions in embezzlement by government officials and their families are reported, the execution of hand amputation sentences for petty thefts is a sign of structural injustice and the political use of the law.
Iran Human Rights Society, June 10, 2025 – Amid the continued enforcement of repressive policies and corporal punishments such as hand amputation in the judicial system of the ruling dictatorship, judicial authorities in Isfahan Province announced that the hand amputation sentence for two prisoners has been carried out—an action consistently condemned by international human rights organizations as a blatant violation of human dignity and fundamental human rights principles.
Confirmation of Hand Amputation Sentence in Isfahan Central Prison
According to an official report by Mizan News Agency, Asadollah Jafari, Chief Justice of Isfahan Province, announced on Monday that two prisoners, charged with “hadd and ta’zir theft” as well as “destruction and intentional injury,” faced hand amputation after judicial proceedings and confirmation by the Supreme Court. The sentence was carried out in Isfahan Central Prison.
Despite judicial authorities emphasizing the “legal process” of this sentence, the lack of transparency in the judicial proceedings, the deprivation of defendants’ access to a lawyer of their choice, and the enforcement of punishments deemed inhumane by the international community raise serious questions about judicial justice in Iran.
Violation of International Human Rights Treaties
The enforcement of such corporal punishments not only contradicts the principles of human dignity but also clearly violates several provisions of international human rights treaties, some of which Iran has signed. Specifically:
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights explicitly states:
“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has been a signatory to since 1975, reiterates this prohibition.
Nevertheless, the use of punishments such as amputation, flogging, and stoning in the judicial system of the ruling dictatorship directly violates these principles.
A System That Amputates the Hands of the Poor While Letting Major Thieves Go Free
One of the main criticisms from domestic and international observers is the application of such sentences to marginalized and disadvantaged individuals, while large-scale theft and embezzlement of public funds by officials and their associates often go unpunished. In Iran, where billions in embezzlement by government officials and their families are reported, the execution of hand amputation sentences for petty thefts is a sign of structural injustice and the political use of the law.
Judicial System’s Silence in the Face of International Protests
Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly called on the regime’s leaders to end corporal punishments and align their judicial system with international standards. However, Iran’s judiciary not only disregards these warnings but portrays the enforcement of such punishments as a form of “judicial authority.”
Punishment or Political Revenge?
Some analysts believe that such sentences are less about criminal justice and more about instilling fear and terror in society. At a time when widespread public protests are emerging and the class divide is sharply increasing, the use of corporal punishments may be part of the regime’s strategy to psychologically suppress the population.
Human rights organizations have once again called on the United Nations, the European Union, and other international bodies to increase pressure on Iran’s leaders to halt this practice. These organizations believe that only through global reactions and extensive legal-political pressure can Iran’s government be compelled to respect basic human rights.
Issuance of Hand Amputation Sentences and Their Inconsistency with Human Rights Laws
The hand amputation sentence for prisoners accused of theft contradicts several fundamental principles of international human rights laws and documents. These laws and treaties emphasize the right to human dignity and the prohibition of torture and inhumane or degrading treatment. The main provisions that conflict with the hand amputation sentence include:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948):
Article 5: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Hand amputation can be considered a form of torture or inhumane treatment, violating this article.
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984):
Article 1: Torture includes any act that causes severe physical or mental pain or suffering as a form of punishment.
Amputation, as a physically painful punishment causing severe suffering, clearly violates this convention.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966):
Article 7: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.”
This covenant, one of the most significant international human rights documents, also condemns hand amputation as an inhumane and degrading punishment.
Nelson Mandela Rules (UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners):
These rules emphasize that prisoners must be treated with dignity, and punishments like hand amputation, which threaten physical and mental health, are generally illegal and unethical.
In conclusion, the hand amputation sentence for those accused of theft is widely condemned by international organizations as a clear violation of human rights, particularly in the areas of prohibiting torture and inhumane or degrading treatment.
Follow Iran Human Rights Society on social networks:
Telegram /Twitter /Instagram / YouTube / Facebook
Join Iran Human Rights Society on Twitter
Discussion about this post