Terror thrives in the dark confines of Iranian clerics' execution chambers
Article Title: A Glimpse into the Agony: Iran's Death Rows and the Plight of Mehdi Hassani
Byline: Lea Verstl
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Mehdi Hassani resides on death row in Ghezel Hesar prison, a grim institution notorious for being the last stop before execution. His crime? Criticizing the Iranian regime. His daughter, Maryam, fled to Germany, fearing for her father's life. Through her harrowing account, we catch a glimpse of the brutal treatment meted out by the Iranian mullahs.
On September 6, 2022, the last time Maryam met her father, the uncertainty of his fate loomed large. Then, a chilling letter arrived from the Iranian security authorities—Mehdi Hassani had been arrested and imprisoned in Evin Prison, Tehran. For as long as Maryam could remember, her father had been critical of the Iranian regime. Now, he is incarcerated in the dreaded Ghezel Hesar prison in the Alborz province, known for its death cells.
The UN unveiled a damning report this week, detailing the plight of political prisoners in Iran. According to the report, at least 975 people were executed in Iran last year, a shocking surge since 2015. Nada Al-Nashif, the UN Deputy Human Rights Commissioner, revealed the staggering number, stating many prisoners endure torture before their execution.
Insight: The UN report emphasizes the alarming increase in executions in Iran, primarily for offenses like drug crimes and vaguely worded charges such as "enmity against God" (moharebeh) and "corruption on earth."
Maryam describes her father's agonizing ordeal. Severe injuries to his neck, back, and feet are just the tip of the iceberg. His anguish has been compounded by psychological torture aimed at forcing false confessions. The torturers even threatened to harm his family, including his eight-year-old brother.
Insight: Many victims of torture in Iranian prisons like Ghezel Hesar are coerced into giving false confessions through brutal methods and threats against their families.
Contact with her father is scarce now. Maryam, her siblings, and her mother are denied visits. Communication, even through calls, is sporadic at best. Maryam fled to Germany after her father's arrest, but her bravery isn't rooted purely in fear. She campaigns vigorously against the Iranian regime, joining weekend demonstrations to pressure the federal government to link negotiations with the regime with the release of political prisoners.
Insight: Maryam Hassani is among the numerous political activists in Germany who are fighting for the release of political prisoners in Iran.
Iran continues to imprison, torture, and execute individuals linked to the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement. The movement began in September 2022, witnessing thousands of Iranians protesting against the repression of their regime. The catalyst for the protests was the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died under mysterious circumstances after being detained by the morality police for allegedly wearing an improper hijab.
Insight: The "Women, Life, Freedom" movement, which began in 2022, has been a powerful symbol of resistance against the oppressive Iranian regime, with feminist ideals at its core.
Maryam insists her father, a vocal advocate for women's rights, was wrongfully convicted on baseless charges. Through her unwavering determination, she hopes to bring light to the suffering of political prisoners like her father and many others in Iran.
Sources: ntv.de
- Iran
- Iran conflict
- Human rights
- Amnesty International
- United Nations
- Executions
- Torture
- The escalating number of executions in Iran, particularly for offenses like 'politics' and vaguely worded charges such as "enmity against God" (moharebeh) and "corruption on earth," as detailed in the UN's recent report, highlights the urgent need for a review and reform in the country's 'community policy' and 'employment policy.'
- The brave campaign led by Maryam Hassani, a political activist in Germany who fights for the release of political prisoners in Iran, is a testament to the broader 'general-news' discussion on human rights violations, including 'crime-and-justice' issues like torture and unjust imprisonment, that needs international attention.
