Earlier in July, rights watchdogs warned that 12 political detainees, sentenced to death in the so-called Alikhani Square case, faced an imminent risk of execution after being transferred to undisclosed locations, News.Az reports, citing The New Region.
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The case is linked to the January protests in Isfahan, during which four members of Iranian security forces were killed, per the state’s narrative.
The UN Human Rights Council condemned the imposition of the death sentences, citing its experts, whom the report said were “in contact with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on these issues.”
“Sentencing 12 people to death in one hearing, in a closed courtroom and without clarity as to each defendant’s individual responsibility violates established fair trial standards,” said Mai Sato, the UN special rapporteur for the human rights situation in Iran.
The death sentences were handed down after trials that took “only three one-hour sessions,” the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization said, claiming that the verdicts were based on “forced confessions” obtained following torture.
“Confessions obtained under coercion must never be admitted as evidence, and broadcasting them before trial violates the presumption of innocence,” the UN experts said.
Earlier in July, “two of the men were executed, sparking fears for the remaining 10,” according to the UN report.
