Geneva, United Nations human rights experts today called for Iran to rescind the death sentence of Mahmoud Mehrabi, an activist arrested for his anti-corruption efforts, and to halt the imposition of death penalties for acts of free expression. The experts emphasized that such punishments are inconsistent with international human rights standards.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mehrabi was detained on March 16, 2023, due to his online activism, which critiqued justice and corruption in Iran. He was later convicted of “corruption on earth” a charge that encompasses various offenses, including blasphemy and violations of Islamic morals. In September 2023, Mehrabi faced further accusations, including propaganda against the state and inciting military disobedience, which led to his death sentence by Iran’s Revolutionary Court.

The UN panel stressed that the charges against Mehrabi do not constitute “the most serious crimes” as defined under international law, which typically restricts the death penalty to the most extreme cases. The sentencing of Mehrabi, they argue, sends a threatening signal to anyone wishing to express dissent within Iran. The experts also highlighted the broader issue of severe penalties for expressions of freedom, noting recent similar sentences, including the case of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi.

The statement from the UN experts also referenced the broader context of repression in Iran, including the execution of at least five individuals linked to the 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini’s death in custody. They urged Iranian authorities to reform their constitution and penal code to eliminate the death penalty and to commute existing death sentences.