The Rt Hon Lord Cameron

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

23 January 2024

Dear David,

I am writing to draw your attention to the execution of Mohammad Reza Ghobadlou, which happened in the early hours of this morning in Iran. Mohammad was a political prisoner, arrested at the age of 22 during protests calling for freedom and human rights in Iran. He was taken to court and given an execution sentence with no chance to defend himself. During his detention he was denied essential health care, despite having health issues which required regular medical attention.

A year ago, I called on the FCDO to urgently intervene when I received reports that Mohammad had been taken into solitary confinement and his execution was imminent. On that occasion he was given a stay of execution, but Iran has continued to violate his basic human rights and those of other prisoners, including ignoring global standards and conventions regarding the right to protest and on how prisoners should be treated, and imprisoning brave Iranians on bogus charges and in conditions that breach the United Nations Convention against Torture and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mohammad Reza Ghobadlou will very likely be one of hundreds of people who are executed by the murderous Iranian regime this year. In 2023, it’s estimated that the death sentence was used against more than 700 prisoners, with a significant surge in the period following the October 7^th Hamas terror attacks. Human rights activists and the families of those put to death have accused the regime of using the world’s preoccupation with war in Gaza as a cover to exact revenge on dissidents and put people to death without due judicial process.

The UK Government has condemned Iran’s use of the death penalty but, to date, has failed to proscribe the IRGC – a move which would send a much clearer signal to Tehran than the current sanctions, which at best are performative given how few assets Iran has in the UK.

Since its formation in 1979, the IRGC has used intimidation, forced disappearances, torture, and executions to spread terror across Iran. Its influence in the current escalation of violence in the Middle East is well documented, it’s engaged in active support for armed groups across Africa and it has deepened military relations with Russia too, supplying Putin with weapons that are being used in Ukraine. The Iranian regime is behind at least 15 credible plots to kidnap and assassinate Iranian dissidents or British citizens and continues to execute young men and women like Mohammad with impunity. Whilst proscribing the IRGC would not directly protect the lives of other political prisoners in Iran, it would help increase pressure on the regime and mark an important milestone in seeking to hold them responsible for their inhumane and unlawful actions.

The UK Government must stop dragging its heels. The lives of other political prisoners could depend on the IRGC being held to account. As one of Mohammad’s international political sponsors, I want to ensure his life stands for something more than just another statistic. I urge you to act without delay and work with the Home Secretary to ensure the IRGS are proscribed as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,