All democrats should protest, raising our voices against the imminent execution of five political prisoners who have suddenly been transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezelhesar Prison on April 16, 2025:
A group of political prisoners previously held in Tehran’s Evin Prison have been forcibly and violently transferred to Ghezelhesar Prison, raising alarm over the possibility of imminent execution. On April 16, 2025, Babak Alipour, Vahid Baniamerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Mohammad Taghavi, and Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar—who are all on death row—were moved under heavy security. According to sources, the prison ward was placed on lockdown to prevent protests against the transfer. In many previous cases, such transfers have preceded executions.
Relatives of the prisoners report that they have endured prolonged solitary confinement, torture, and consistent denial of legal representation. Some have been subjected to repeated mock executions and threatened with execution in the field—tactics known to inflict severe psychological trauma.
The Islamic Republic has a long history of executing political prisoners around international holidays, fueling concern that these men may be executed during the upcoming Easter holidays. Iran Human Rights has warned of the grave and immediate danger facing the prisoners and has called on the international community, particularly governments with diplomatic ties to Iran, to intervene urgently.
“We call on the people of Iran, civil society organizations, and the international community to pay close attention to the situation of political prisoners sentenced to death,” a relative stated. “The Islamic Republic has repeatedly used silence and media blackout to carry out executions.”
Executions in Iran have sharply increased following the end of Nowrouz and Ramadan.
The five men, along with Abolhassan Montazer—whose current status remains unknown—were sentenced to death on November 25, 2024, by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. They were convicted of “baghy” (armed rebellion) for alleged membership in the Mojahedin Khalgh Organization. Additionally, they received sentences of imprisonment and internal exile for charges including “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security” and “forming an illegal group.”
All six have long histories of political persecution and previous arrests spanning decades. They were detained between December 22, 2023, and February 23, 2024, and formally indicted on May 14, 2024. Until the recent transfer, they were held in Evin Prison in Tehran.
Read the full sytory at: 5 political prisoners on death row in Qezel Hesar Prison. – Communication and Education Centre