HRANA– In the early hours of Thursday, July 31, the amputation sentences of three prisoners convicted of theft were carried out in Urmia Prison. Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharafian, and Mehdi Shahivand had the fingers of their right hands amputated. Following the implementation of the sentences, the three were transferred to a hospital and returned to prison several hours later.

According to information received by HRANA, a disturbance broke out last night in Urmia Prison. Following the incident, prison guards transferred Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharafian, and Mehdi Shahivand to solitary confinement. Ultimately, around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, the amputation sentences were carried out inside the prison.

A source familiar with the case, who spoke to HRANA on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said: “Mr. Rostami, Sharafian, and Shahivand were transferred to a hospital after the amputations were carried out. They were returned to prison several hours later.”

Hadi Rostami, 39, Mehdi Sharafian, 42, and Mehdi Shahivand, 29, were arrested in 2015 by police detectives in Urmia. The three were prosecuted in a joint case related to theft charges.

On November 19, 2019, they were sentenced by Branch 1 of the Juvenile Criminal Court to the amputation of four fingers on their right hands, in a way that the thumb and palm would remain intact. They were also ordered to return the stolen property. This sentence was upheld by Branch 13 of the Supreme Court on May 10, 2020.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments such as flogging and amputation. However, in 2024, HRANA documented at least three cases where flogging sentences were carried out, totaling 106 lashes. Additionally, at least 131 individuals were sentenced to a combined 9,957 lashes by the Iranian judiciary.