IRAN: PROTESTERS AND DISSIDENTS AT RISK OF EXECUTION

To Mr Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei,

I am concerned that at least 78 people are under sentence of death for politically motivated charges and at grave risk of execution. They were convicted following grossly unfair trials, including before Revolutionary Courts, of overly broad and vaguely defined charges such as “enmity against God” (moharebeh), “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz), and “armed rebellion against the state” (baghi). Amongst those sentenced to death are at least 41 people arrested in connection to the January 2026 protests and seven arrested in connection to the 2022 Woman Life Freedom uprising. Among others at risk are 22 people sentenced to death for real or perceived affiliation with banned opposition groups and seven accused of spying for Israel or other national security-related offenses. At least five individuals from the 78 were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offense, in violation of international law which strictly prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by children.

I call on you to immediately halt all planned executions, quash all death sentences, and establish an official moratorium on all executions with a view to fully abolishing the death penalty. Pending this, take steps to bring national legislation in line with international law and standards, including by removing the death penalty for vaguely worded offenses, and repealing mandatory death sentences. I also urge you to allow international monitors, including UN Special Procedures and the International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, access to detention facilities.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]