Iran's Political Prisoners in Peril

We welcome with trepidation the ceasefire between Iran and Israel announced by President Trump yesterday.

We continue to stand with the people of Iran — not with the regime that has oppressed them for generations, but with those who have endured its cruelty and resisted its injustice.

We know that in chaotic moments like these, domestic repression surges. Right now, Iran’s dissidents, political prisoners, and international hostages — already among the most vulnerable in the country — face heightened peril.

A regime on its knees may take damaging actions. Our partners have warned that Iran’s authorities have intensified the issuance, confirmation and execution of death sentences against prisoners accused of “espionage for Israel.” Their cases are marked by grave due process and fair trial violations, including the use of torture and coerced confessions.These actions go well beyond repression—they are a calculated response to shifting geopolitical realities: Iran is weaponizing the death penalty.

Urgent Appeal: Dr. Djalali Moved to Unknown Location

Among those at immediate risk is Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a dual Swedish-Iranian citizen, disaster medicine expert, husband, and father of two.

Swedish-Iranian disaster medicine specialist Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali has ‘disappeared’ and is at imminent risk of execution by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We were deeply alarmed to learn yesterday that Dr. Djalali has been moved from Evin Prison without any information on his current location or condition.

His family remains in the dark, and his death sentence for alleged espionage for Israel puts him in immediate danger. We are equally concerned for the wellbeing of all prisoners held in Evin Prison, especially in light of recent events.

As Dr. Djalali’s international legal counsel, we are calling on the international community to ensure his safety and to demand his immediate release- along with all of Iran’s political prisoners and international hostages.

Leaders must take urgent action to secure their release and to halt the Islamic Republic’s accelerating state-sanctioned murder machine.

“The Swedish government, together with its international partners, and all responsible stakeholders, must deliver an unambiguous message to the Islamic Republic: The continued wrongful detention of my husband and other hostages is unacceptable. Securing their release is not just a diplomatic concern - it’s a moral imperative and a test of our collective resolve to counter the scourge of international hostage diplomacy.”

-Vida Mehrannia, Dr. Djalali’s wife, from her urgent appeal to Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden

Context

The use of the death penalty has been accelerating over the past year in Iran, including for these so-called national security-related offences, which target political dissidents and those connected to the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests.

A few weeks ago, we condemned the execution of Pedram Madani, who was executed despite major flaws in his case in a chilling example of Iran’s utter disregard for justice, due process, and human life. Just this week, the Islamic Republic executed Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayeasteh on trumped up charges of “collaborating with Israel.”The RWCHR’s Irwin Cotler and Judith Abitan co-authored this opinion piece on Djalali’s case for the Globe and Mail earlier this month.

Credit: Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights