Iranian authorities are poised to carry out amputation sentences on three prisoners, Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharifian, and Mehdi Shahivand, for robbery convictions. Amnesty International warned on Friday that these executions, scheduled to begin as early as April 11, amount to torture and violate international law, especially given the prisoners’ lack of fair trials and legal representation.
The three men were sentenced under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code to have four fingers on their right hands amputated, leaving only their palms and thumbs intact. Amnesty reports that their convictions stem from coerced confessions obtained through physical and psychological torture. Despite these allegations, no independent investigations have been carried out by Iranian authorities, including the Supreme Court.
According to Amnesty, the men were denied legal counsel during the investigation phase and were subjected to severe abuse such as beatings, floggings, and threats of sexual violence. These forced confessions led to their conviction in 2019 for alleged robberies, despite their repeated claims of innocence.
Hadi Rostami, one of the convicted individuals, shared his distress in an open letter: “I have been incarcerated in Orumiyeh Central Prison since 2017 on charges of theft and sentenced to the amputation of four fingers on my right hand—despite my innocence,” he wrote. Rostami claims that his confession was signed under duress after enduring severe torture.
The amputation sentences reflect a broader pattern of corporal punishment in Iran, which continues despite widespread international condemnation. While the practice is legally sanctioned under Iranian law, it contradicts international human rights obligations that Iran is bound to uphold.
Amnesty also noted that victims of such punishments are often from marginalized or economically disadvantaged communities. The human rights group emphasized that such amputation sentences not only cause irreversible physical harm but also reinforce cycles of poverty and discrimination against people with disabilities in Iran.
This latest case follows a similar incident in September 2024, when two individuals had their fingers amputated for theft. Amnesty has urged the international community to take immediate action to pressure Iran to halt these brutal practices.
Sources: Amnesty International, Ryan Huang Lincoln Alexander School of Law, CA article on jurist.com
