Iranian authorities are poised to execute finger amputations on three men imprisoned for theft, with the cruel act potentially commencing on April 11, 2025, according to Human Rights Watch. The sentences follow deeply flawed trials, prompting calls from the international community to compel Iran to adhere to human rights norms and immediately annul these sentences.
On March 13, officials from Urmia Central Prison, where the men have been detained, delivered notifications to Hadi Rostami, 38, Mehdi Sharifian, 42, and Mehdi Shahivand, 29, indicating the impending implementation of their sentences. “Amputation is torture, plain and simple… all officials responsible for ordering and carrying out acts of torture will be liable for criminal prosecution under international law,” stated Bahar Saba, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.
This troubling development follows a similar case in October 2024, where two brothers had their fingers amputated in the same prison. Currently, two additional men also face the terrifying prospect of amputation sentences, typically executed without anaesthesia, under Iran’s harsh legal framework.
The trio, initially arrested in August 2017 for alleged home burglaries, endured a blatant miscarriage of justice, culminating in a 2019 trial plagued by irregularities. Their conviction involved sentences that mandated the removal of four fingers, leaving merely their palms and thumbs intact, a grotesque penalty reflecting Iran’s disregard for human dignity.
Reports indicate that the men were deprived of proper legal counsel during their trials, with claims of torture surfacing from their time at the police’s Investigation Unit. They were subjected to brutal conditions, including physical abuse that coerced them into false confessions—later recanted—used against them in court.
Rostami has lodged complaints regarding his treatment with senior judicial authorities, only to be met with dismissal and a lack of proper investigation. Despite appeals citing torture and a history of ill-treatment, the Supreme Court upheld the sentencing without examining these claims, further entrenching the cycle of abuse.
The harrowing reality for the men includes ongoing threats of amputation, which they describe as a continuous “horrific nightmare.” Appeals for intervention have been made to international organisations, highlighting the urgent need for action against these inhumane practices.
Iran’s reliance on corporal punishment, including public floggings and amputations, places it among a select group of countries committed to brutal legal practices. The international community, bound by treaties like the Convention against Torture, must act decisively against such violations, pressing for accountability and cessation of these extreme measures in Iran.
The legal framework regarding corporal punishment in Iran mandates medical professional presence during such sentences, without anaesthesia unless otherwise specified. Yet, ethical guidelines make it clear that medical personnel must not assist, condone, or facilitate any form of torture, raising questions about complicity in these acts.
Iran plans to implement finger amputations on three men sentenced for theft following unfair trials. Human Rights Watch has called on the international community to intervene against this inhumane punishment, which has roots in a history of torture and coercion faced by the prisoners. The actions of Iranian authorities reflect a persistent violation of human rights, urging an urgent call for global condemnation and reform.
In concluding this alarming situation, it is evident that the Iranian authorities are not only perpetrating torture but are also entrenched in a culture of impunity that disregards human rights. The looming threat of amputations highlights the dire need for global intervention and condemnation of such practices. International law and ethical standards prohibit such cruelty, and it is imperative that the global community advocates for the protection of these prisoners’ rights. Calls for action must resonate loudly across nations, demanding an end to Iran’s brutal legal practices and ensuring accountability for those involved in these violations. Only through concerted global efforts can we hope to dismantle the machinery of torture that persists in Iran.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
