Iranian authorities have carried out amputations on three prisoners in Urmia Central Prison, cutting off four fingers from each of their right hands as punishment for theft.
The men — Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharifian, and Mehdi Shahivand — had been sentenced years earlier and were reportedly informed in March 2025 that the punishment would soon be enforced.
The amputation took place in late July 2025 using a guillotine-like device.
According to reports from human rights organizations, the procedure was done while the prisoners were blindfolded, handcuffed, and shackled.
They were then returned to their prison cells without full medical treatment and placed in isolation.
It is believed they received no anesthesia, raising concerns of extreme physical and psychological pain.
The convictions were based on theft-related charges, though human rights groups say the trials were unfair and based on forced confessions obtained under pressure or torture.
The prisoners reportedly did not have access to proper legal representation during the judicial process.
This is not the first time Iran has used such punishments. In October 2024, two Kurdish brothers, Shahab and Mehrdad Teimouri, also had their fingers amputated in the same prison.
They, too, were subjected to similar treatment and isolation following the procedure.
Iran’s penal system includes corporal punishments such as amputation, flogging, and, in some cases, blinding.
The laws are rooted in Sharia-based legal principles. Iran remains one of the few countries that still implements amputation as a judicial sentence.
International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the practice, calling it a form of torture and urging Iran to end such actions.
They are also demanding accountability for those involved in carrying out or assisting with these punishments, including medical personnel and prison staff.
Despite international pressure, the Iranian authorities continue to enforce these rulings.
Most cases remain hidden, raising concerns about unreported punishments taking place across the country.