Sydney, 29 July 2025 — The Association to Defend Freedom & Human Rights in Iran- Australia (ADFHRIA), an Iranian- Australian Community Organisation has issued a strong condemnation following the execution of two Iranian political prisoners, Mr. Behrooz Ehsani and Mr. Mehdi Hassani, affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. The executions, carried out on Sunday, 27 July 2025, have sparked grief and outrage among the Iranian-Australian community. https://www.iranliberty.org.au/condemnation-of-iranian-regime/
In a letter addressed to Australia’s Foreign Minister, the Association warned that these executions may signal the beginning of a new wave of mass political killings, reminiscent of the 1988 prison massacre, when more than 30,000 political prisoners—primarily PMOI supporters—were executed in Iran. While the Iranian- Australian community mentioned:
According to the Association, failure by the international community to act would embolden Tehran to continue its brutal campaign against dissent. They invoked the UN Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, stressing that both Australia and the global community bear a legal and moral duty to prevent atrocities before it is too late.
“The international community cannot remain silent. We urge the Australian Government to condemn these inhumane acts and to take immediate steps to protect the lives of political prisoners in Iran,” the statement read.
The Iranian- Australian Community called on Australia to:
- Summon the Iranian Ambassador to formally convey Australia’s deep concern.
- Refer Iran’s systematic human rights violations to the United Nations Security Council.
- Support the urgent establishment of a UN fact-finding mission to investigate crimes against humanity in Iran.
The Iranian- Australian community also highlighted the case of Mr. Yaghoub Derakhshan, another political prisoner who was sentenced to death this week for expressing support for the PMOI. At least 14 other prisoners affiliated with the group are believed to face imminent execution. https://www.en-hrana.org/updated-list-of-political-and-security-prisoners-facing-execution-in-iran/?hilite=Daneshvar
“Swift, firm, and principled action is essential. The lives of thousands of political prisoners are at stake,” the statement concluded.
Iran: 56 Political Prisoners at Risk of Execution Amid Unfair Trials
21st July 2025- Tehran. At least 56 prisoners in Iran charged with political or security-related offenses have been sentenced to death, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Of these, 22 sentences were issued by Tehran’s Revolutionary Courts, with Branches 15, 26, and 28 playing leading roles. Many of those condemned report being denied legal counsel, subjected to opaque proceedings, and held in solitary confinement while awaiting execution.
The charges most frequently applied include moharebeh (“enmity against God”) and baghi (“armed rebellion”). In several cases, Iran’s Supreme Court annulled verdicts only for parallel judicial branches to reinstate the death sentences, leaving prisoners like Mohammad-Javad Vafa’i Sani condemned multiple times. Prominent lawyers and rights defenders have condemned the process as a “blatant violation of human rights.”
Supreme Court Reversals Ignored
In several cases, initial Supreme Court annulments were later overturned by lower branches, reinstating death sentences. Prisoners such as Hatam Ozdemir, Mohammad-Javad Vafa’i Sani, Isa Eidmohammadi, Saman Mohammadi Kheyareh, and Sharifeh Mohammadi were all resentenced to death.
Remarkably, Mohammad-Javad Vafa’i Sani has been sentenced to death three separate times after repeated retrials.
Lawyers and Civil Society Push Back
Defense attorneys continue to condemn the lack of judicial integrity. In the case of Mehdi Hasani, his lawyer revealed that the Supreme Court rejected his retrial request without even reviewing the original trial court file or legal arguments.
Among the most urgent cases are three women — Pakhshan Azizi, Verisheh Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi — whose death sentences have sparked outrage, with more than 200 attorneys calling for their immediate revocation. HRANA warns that the ongoing executions reflect a broader pattern of systematic denial of due process, placing dozens of political prisoners at imminent risk of execution. https://www.hra-news.org/2025/hranews/a-56157/
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