Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, expressed deep concern over reports of the forced transfer of five political prisoners sentenced to death from Ward 4 of Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison.
On Thursday, April 17, Sato posted on X (formerly Twitter), recalling that in her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council she had also warned about conditions in Evin Prison.
She reiterated concerns about reports of unrest and instability in the prison following the transfer of inmates, stating that this situation has created a dangerous environment.
Meanwhile, political prisoner Golrokh Iraee, in a letter from Evin Prison, warned against society’s “numbness” to news of executions, following the transfer of Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou for execution.
Criticizing the general response to the issuance, confirmation, and enforcement of death sentences in Iran, she wrote: “We who oppose the death penalty, sitting freely in our homes or behind our desks, watching every move from our high-security phones lest we be identified.”
The UN Special Rapporteur noted the broad impact of executions, emphasizing that the harm goes beyond the direct victims—it devastates families, causes psychological harm to other prisoners, and triggers waves of grief and anxiety throughout society. She described these impacts as “immeasurable.”
Sato concluded by highlighting the ongoing concerns over the Iranian regime’s use of the death penalty, stating that these cases once again underscore the need for oversight and accountability. She added, “I will closely follow this situation. The international community must not remain silent in the face of these events.”
Five Political Prisoners at Risk of Execution
Meanwhile, warnings have been issued that a group of political prisoners held in Evin Prison may be transferred to Ghezel Hesar.
Among them are five political prisoners—Babak Alipour, Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Mohammad Taghavi, and Ali-Akbar Daneshvarkar—who have been sentenced to death