Brussels, 9 October 2024 – The International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), supported by over 4,000 lawmakers from both sides of the Atlantic, has formally appealed to the European Union and United Nations leaders, including the President of the European Parliament and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to urgently address the trial of seven Iranian political prisoners that began on 6 October 2024, in Tehran.
The detainees, Abolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar, Mohammad Taghavi, and Mojtaba Taghavi, have faced severe interrogation and torture at Evin Prison. They are charged with insurrection (Bagh’i), membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), and conspiracy against the regime’s security, charges that carry the death penalty.
The letter sent to the EU and UN officials, stated: “The backgrounds of these prisoners range from engineering to law, with histories of political persecution dating back to the 1980s for some, such as Mr. Mohammad Taghavi who is currently on a hunger strike in protest against the brutal treatment he endures. These trials starkly contravene international human rights norms and highlight the ongoing repressive measures by the Iranian regime against political dissent”.
It further emphasized, “The Iranian judiciary sentenced Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, as well as Iranian boxing champion Mohammad Javad Vafaie Sani to death last month for supporting the PMOI/MEK. The lives of these seven individuals, the three already condemned to death, and indeed the integrity of the international human rights framework, are at stake”.
The ISJ urges the European Union to publicly condemn these unjust trials and to call for the immediate and unconditional release of these prisoners. Additionally, the organization seeks support from the EU and UN in establishing an international fact-finding mission to visit Iranian prisons and meet with prisoners to ensure accountability and transparency in their treatment.
This call to action underscores the critical need for a robust international response to prevent further injustices and highlights the significant roles that the European Union and the United Nations can play in safeguarding lives and upholding global human rights standards.
