Three prisoners in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, face the grim fate of having their fingers amputated, as judicial authorities are set to transfer a guillotine to the local prison. Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Shahivand, and Mehdi Sharafian were informed by Deputy Prosecutor Saeid Nouri that the deadline for obtaining consent from their accusers had expired, with preparations now underway for their executions. This chilling announcement was made in front of the prison director and enforcement officials, signalling the judiciary’s determination to proceed with this severe punishment.
On 13 March, the trio was warned of a strict deadline to gain consent from the plaintiffs, failing which they would face the harsh penalty. Following this urgent report by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), various international organisations, including the UN Special Rapporteur and Amnesty International, voiced concerns over this “cruel and inhuman” punishment, demanding its cessation.
In a desperate plea, Hadi Rostami reached out to the global community, declaring his innocence. He described his plight, having faced torture during his detention in Orumiyeh, which led him to sign documents while blindfolded. He lamented the overwhelming burden of securing consent for compensation that he cannot afford, stating, “How can I obtain the consent of those I have never harmed?”
Previously, on 29 October 2024, the execution of amputation sentences had already been witnessed with the tragic case of two Kurdish brothers in the same prison. Rostami, Shahivand, and Sharafian were arrested in 2015 for theft and received their sentences from a court in 2019. Their sentences, which include the amputation of four fingers, were confirmed by the Supreme Court, marking a dark period for the justice system. Currently, five prisoners await similar fates in Orumiyeh, all charged with theft, casting a shadow over justice and human rights in the region.
In Orumiyeh, three prisoners face imminent finger amputations as authorities plan to transfer a guillotine to the prison. Hadi Rostami and his co-defendants, Shahivand and Sharafian, received notices indicating that their sentences would be executed due to a lack of consent from accusers. Multiple international bodies have condemned this punishment, while Rostami stresses his innocence and the financial impossibility of obtaining consent. The recent history of amputations in the same prison raises concerns for these individuals’ fates.
The impending amputations of three prisoners in Orumiyeh highlight the alarming realities of capital punishment in Iran. Despite appeals from international organisations and personal pleas of innocence, the judicial system seems entrenched in its decisions, showing little compassion for those potentially wrongfully convicted. The stories of Rostami, Shahivand, and Sharafian reveal a harrowing picture of justice that raises urgent questions about human rights and dignity within the penal system.
Original Source: kurdistanhumanrights.org
