“Mai Sato”: Amputation of Three Prisoners in Urmia Prison is a Violation of Fundamental Human Rights
“Mai Sato”, UN Special Rapporteur, condemned the amputation of three prisoners in Urmia Prison and described it as a violation of fundamental human rights.
Mai Sato, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, following the execution of the amputation sentence of three prisoners in Urmia Prison, while condemning this punishment, described it as a clear violation of human rights and “state-sponsored mutilation” and published a message about it on the social media platform X.
On the morning of Thursday, July 31st, corresponding to Mordad 9th, the sentence to amputate four fingers of the right hand of three prisoners named “Hadi Rostami”, “Mehdi Sherfian” and “Mehdi Shahivand” was carried out in Urmia Central Prison using a device called a “guillotine”. These prisoners, who were convicted of theft and were serving time in Urmia Prison, were transferred to the sentence execution ward under strict security measures, blindfolded, handcuffed and shackled. The execution was carried out in the presence of judicial officials including “Peyman Khanzadeh”, the head of Urmia Prison and the deputy prosecutor.
According to the statements of officials, before the execution of the sentence, each prisoner was injected with an anesthetic ampule, and after the amputation, they were transferred to a medical center for dressing and then returned to prison. However, their statements suggest that they were returned to prison without receiving the necessary medical and psychological care.
Mai Sato, in response to this unjust and inhumane execution, published a message on the social media platform X stating: “Corporal punishments, including amputation, are instances of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Such actions are absolutely prohibited under international law, including Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and have no justification whatsoever.”
In recent months, she had repeatedly warned about the increase in cases of corporal punishment of prisoners, including execution, amputation and flogging by officials in Iranian prisons. In her message, she called on the Islamic Republic authorities to immediately end the execution of such inhumane punishments and to adhere to their international commitments.
Amnesty International has also warned about the danger of executing these sentences and called on the international community to put pressure on the Islamic Republic to prevent such inhumane punishments.
The execution of amputation sentences for prisoners accused of theft is being carried out by the Islamic Republic regime, while this regime has for years not only stolen national assets but also personal properties of the Iranian people and used them in European and American countries for its own benefit.
