UN Special Rapporteur Urges Iran to Halt Imminent Execution of Three Political Prisoners

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, on Thursday urged Iranian authorities to halt the imminent executions of three political prisoners: Ali Mojadem, Moein Khanfari, and Mohammadreza Moghaddam. Reports indicate these individuals, part of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority, face immediate death sentences, raising grave concerns among international human rights advocates. The call underscores persistent international scrutiny over Iran's extensive use of capital punishment.

Mojadem, Khanfari, and Moghaddam were arrested in Ahvaz between 2017 and 2019, alongside several others, and subsequently sentenced to death on charges such as "moharebeh" (waging war against God) and "baghy" (armed rebellion). Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have reported that their trials were grossly unfair, relying heavily on confessions allegedly extracted under torture. Recent transfers to solitary confinement in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison suggest their executions are now imminent.

Mai Sato, who commenced her duties as Special Rapporteur in August 2024, has made the "right to life" a key priority of her mandate. In her first report, she expressed serious concern over the alarming increase in executions in Iran, particularly for broadly defined security offenses that do not meet the "most serious crimes" threshold under international human rights law. She has consistently called for greater transparency and cooperation from Iranian authorities.

Iran maintains one of the highest execution rates globally, with at least 975 individuals executed in 2024, the highest figure since 2015. A significant portion of these executions involves charges that human rights groups deem politically motivated or based on flawed judicial processes, often disproportionately affecting ethnic minorities. The systemic lack of due process, including denial of legal counsel and reliance on forced confessions, remains a critical concern for international observers.

International bodies and human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned Iran's use of the death penalty, especially against political prisoners and those convicted after unfair trials. The urgent appeal by Special Rapporteur Sato highlights the critical need for Iran to adhere to its international human rights obligations and immediately cease executions that violate fundamental standards of justice and human dignity.