Execution of three political prisoners in Ahwaz amid severe human rights violations

The Iranian occupation authorities in the city of Ahwaz have issued death sentences against three political prisoners two of whom are from the Arab Ahwazi population in a case that has sparked widespread controversy and strong criticism from human rights organizations and activists.

According to the official court ruling, the death sentence was issued twice for each of the following individuals: Farshad Etemadifar, from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, and two Arab citizens from Ahwaz, Masoud Jamei and Alireza Mordasi (Hamidawi).

Each of the three was also sentenced to one year in prison.

The charges brought against them fall under the usual political accusations frequently used by Iranian authorities against activists and dissidents, including “corruption on earth,” “membership in groups opposed to the Iranian regime,” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Informed human rights sources stated that the trial was marred by blatant violations of justice and fundamental rights.

The detainees were reportedly denied meaningful access to independent legal counsel and subjected to intense psychological and physical pressure during interrogation, which led to forced confessions that were later used as the main evidence in their sentencing.

The same sources noted that the court relied on confessions extracted under threats and torture, without observing even the minimum legal standards for a fair trial casting serious doubt on the credibility and fairness of the judicial proceedings.

In the same case, the court also handed down lengthy prison sentences to two other detainees: Saman Hormatnejad, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and Davood Hormatnejad, who received a 15-year sentence.

All five detainees were arrested during a security crackdown carried out by Iranian intelligence forces against Ahwazi activists in 2023 and 2024.