Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Sweden rally to demand justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre
A global coalition of over 300 prominent figures—including UN experts, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, former ambassadors, judges, and human rights defenders—has issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations to stop the execution of political prisoners in Iran.
The statement, published by Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI), condemns what it describes as the Iranian regime’s growing campaign of politically motivated executions. The appeal focuses on the cases of Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, who face execution after being convicted in a five-minute trial without legal representation. They reportedly endured torture and solitary confinement for nearly two years. Iran’s Supreme Court recently upheld their death sentences on charges of “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth.”
A coalition of +300 UN experts & NGOs appeal for UN intervention to halt the imminent execution of political prisoners in Iran, including Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani
CC: @drmaisato @volker_turk #SaveBehrouzEhsani #SaveMehdiHassani #StopExecutionsInIranhttps://t.co/u2u0WLStY7
— Justice for the Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (@jvmifoundation) May 2, 2025
“We demand an immediate halt to their execution. The international community must not remain silent,” the signatories declared, warning of a broader wave of executions aimed at silencing dissent. The statement notes that dozens of other political prisoners are at risk of imminent execution after unfair trials. Some have been moved to Ghezel Hesar Prison, known as a major site for executions. Since President Masoud Pezeshkian took office in August 2024, more than 1,000 executions have reportedly taken place, many involving political prisoners, women, minorities, and juveniles.
The coalition links this escalation to decades of impunity for Iranian officials, particularly for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, which UN Special Rapporteur Prof. Javaid Rehman classified as crimes against humanity and genocide in a 2024 report.The group welcomed the European Parliament’s April 2025 resolution condemning the Iranian regime’s actions and cited the UN Rapporteur’s February 2025 warning to Tehran over rights violations.Signatories include former ICC President Sang-Hyun Song, ex-UN rights chief Navi Pillay, Nobel laureates Jody Williams and Oleksandra Matviichuk, and numerous legal experts.
Global Appeal to Stop the Execution of Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani in Iran:
+300 UN experts, Nobel laureates, former ambassadors & judges urge UN High Commissioner @volker_turk to urgently intervene to #SaveBehrouzEhsani #SaveMehdiHassani
CC: @drmaisato #StopExecutionsInIran https://t.co/Zg6QsTGQfu pic.twitter.com/SrWlpePItx
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) May 2, 2025
They call on the UN, its special mechanisms, and democratic governments to take immediate action to stop the executions, impose sanctions on human rights violators, and push for the release of all political prisoners. They also urge that improved diplomatic ties with Iran be conditioned on human rights compliance.
The full list of supporters is available at iran1988.org.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu