“Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, expresses concern over the forced transfer of five political prisoners sentenced to death.”
UN Special Rapporteur Ms. Mai Sato emphasizes the devastating impact of executions, writing:
“Execution is an issue whose consequences go far beyond the individual being executed. It destroys families, causes psychological harm to other prisoners, negatively affects prison staff. And creates a cycle of suffering throughout society. Its emotional cost is immeasurable.”
Iran Human Rights Society– Thursday, April 17, 2025
Ms. Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, expressed deep concern yesterday in a message. This message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about the forced transfer of five political prisoners sentenced to death from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison. She called for immediate international attention to the situation of these prisoners.
In her message, Ms. Sato stated that she had received credible reports regarding the transfer of these five prisoners from Ward 4 of Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. According to her, this forced transfer has taken place amid growing fears that the executions may be carried out imminently.
Reiterating the severe consequences of the death penalty, Ms. Mai Sato wrote:
Ms. Sato also emphasized that this case, along with other similar incidents, adds to the growing concerns over the widespread and politically motivated use of the death penalty by the Islamic Republic of Iran. She concluded her message with a promise to closely monitor this case and its developments and issued a warning:
“The international community must not remain silent in the face of this situation.”
Transfer to Ghezel Hesar: A Warning Sign of Imminent Executions?
In recent months, the transfer of death row prisoners to Ghezel Hesar Prison become one of the alarming indicators of impending executions. Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, known in recent years as the primary site for carrying out executions in Iran. And has frequently witnessed mass and nighttime executions.
This action by Iranian authorities comes as human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly warned about the sharp rise in executions in Iran. Particularly following the nationwide protests of 2022 (1401 in the Iranian calendar).
Following the publication of Ms. Mai Sato’s message, many human rights activists have called for immediate intervention by international organizations, civil society groups, and democratic governments to prevent these executions. Activists stress that the transfer of these five political prisoners to Ghezel Hesar must not be a prelude to their execution.
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