Petition for the Immediate Release of Babak Shahbazi, an Iranian Political Prisoner on Death Row
55
Signatures
500
Goal
To:
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
- Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Relevant International Human Rights and Legal Bodies
Introduction
We, the undersigned, urgently call upon the international community to intervene in the case of Mr. Babak Shahbazi, a 44-year-old Iranian citizen and father of two, who has been sentenced to death in the Islamic Republic of Iran on politically motivated charges. Mr. Shahbazi is currently detained in Ghezel Hesar Prison, a facility where executions are routinely carried out, and faces imminent risk of execution.
Facts of the Case
- Arrest and Detention: Mr. Shahbazi, a technician by trade, was arrested on 6 January 2024 (16 Dey 1402). Reports confirm that his arrest followed a private letter he had written to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, in which he expressed willingness to fight alongside Ukrainians against Russia.
- Torture and Coerced Confessions: Following his arrest, he was subjected to prolonged solitary confinement in Evin Prison and in “safe houses” for nine months. During this period, he endured torture and pressure to confess to espionage for Israel. He refused to sign coerced confessions, and instead sought to present this as evidence of duress before the court, evidence which the court ignored.
- Unfair Trial: Mr. Shahbazi was denied legal counsel during the investigative phase. At trial, one of the charges absurdly alleged that “Israel had taught him to use Microsoft Word,” highlighting the lack of credible evidence against him.
- Death Sentence and Appeal: Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to death. His lawyers’ request for an appeal was rejected within 24 hours by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court of Iran.
- Transfer for Execution: On 8 August 2025 (17 Mordad 1404), Mr. Shahbazi was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison, where executions are routinely carried out. His execution may take place at any time.
Demands to the International Community
We urge:
- The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately halt the execution of Babak Shahbazi and release him unconditionally.
- The United Nations and all relevant human rights mechanisms to issue an urgent public condemnation and to employ all available diplomatic means to stop this execution.
- Member States to raise this case at the Human Rights Council and through bilateral and multilateral engagements with Iran, pressing for a moratorium on executions of political prisoners.
- International civil society, legal institutions, and advocacy organizations to amplify this case, ensuring that the political cost of carrying out such executions is made unacceptably high.
The imminent execution of Babak Shahbazi would be an irreversible miscarriage of justice and part of a broader pattern of political repression in Iran. Only immediate, forceful intervention by the international community can save his life.
We, the undersigned, call for urgent international action to stop this execution.
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Province Number of signatures Alborz 0 Ardabil 0 Bushehr 0 Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari 0 East Azerbaijan 0 Fars 0 Gilan 0 Golestan 0 Hamadan 0 Hormozgan 0 Ilam 0 Isfahan 0 Kerman 0 Kermanshah 0 Khuzestan 0 Kohgiluyehv And Boyer Ahmad 0 Kurdistan 0 Lorestan 0 Markazi 0 Mazandaran 0 North Khorasan 0 Qazvin 0 Qom 0 Razavi Khorasan 0 Semnan 0 Sistan and Baluchestan 0 South Khorasan 0 Tehran 0 West Azerbaijan 0 Yazd 0 Zanjan 0 This petition has received 55 signatures so far. Approximately NaN% of signatures come from Iran. Approximately NaN% of signatures come from outside of Iran. Learn how Daadkhast generates signature maps. -
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An anti-capital punishment advocate started this petition
