The Iranian Arabs men were arrested in early 2011 on obscure charges including ‘enmity against God and corruption on earth’, ‘gathering and colluding against state security’ and ‘spreading propaganda against the system’, Amnesty said.
After being sentenced to death on July 7, 2012, they have been subjected to torture in Karoun prison and refused access to medical treatment, family visits and phone calls.
After the Supreme Court upheld the sentences on January 9 this year, the five – named as Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, his brother Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, and teachers Hashem Sha’bani Amouri and Hadi Rashidi or Rashedi) – began a hunger strike in protest at the abuses.
They initially went on a ‘dry’ hunger strike, refusing water and food, before accepting fluids from 2 March.
In an urgent statement to the world’s media, Amnesty has now issued a list of demands to the Iranian regime including stopping their execution.
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