Iran | Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh at Imminent Risk of Execution for Blasphemy and Israel Collaboration

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 13, 2024: Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, a political prisoner on death row for “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “collaborating with the enemy”, has been transferred to the pre-execution solitary confinement cells of Ghezel Hesar Prison. His collaboration with Israel was established based on his torture-tainted confessions and he was hastily convicted. More than 300 people have been executed in the past two months.

Iran Human Rights considers the Islamic Republic’s determination to execute Mohammad Amin a political decision in light of recent tensions with Israel and calls on the international community to take timely action to save his life.

IHRNGO Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “The Islamic Republic is going through the biggest crises of its lifetime and in order to prevent popular protests and cover up regional failures, is resorting to intimidation through the execution of defenceless prisoners. We once again call on the international community to make efforts to prevent the execution of Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh and other prisoners.”

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, a political prisoner detained in Evin Prison, was transferred to the solitary confinement cells of Ghezel Hhesar Prison in preparation for his execution.

Mohammad Amin who is around 26 years old, was arrested in autumn 2023. Under torture, he confessed to collaborating with Israel which was used as the basis to charge him with multiple offences including “insulting Islamic sanctities” and importantly, Article 6 of the Law on Countering Israeli Actions Against Peace and Security. The article states that “any intelligence cooperation or espionage in favour of the Zionist regime is considered as moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth), and the perpetrator shall be sentenced to the severest punishment. The two aforementioned charges carry the death penalty.

Mohammad Amin was subsequently tried by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by “Death Judge” Salavati who issued the death sentence after a hasty trial.

Mohammad Amin's case is so devoid of evidence that "an empty handgun magazine" and "a pepper spray can" have been used as evidence of illegal possession of weapons to prove "collaboration with the enemy."

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, December 13, 2024

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