Iran: Outrage after first execution of protester

Iran carried out its first execution on Thursday of a man sentenced to death for his involvement in the protest movement.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran was the scene of protests on September 16 sparked by the death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurddin Mahza Amini, who died three days after being arrested by a deputy squad. She accused him of violating a strict dress code, specifically requiring women to wear veils in public.

Mohsen Shekari, 23, was convicted and sentenced to death for blocking a street and injuring a paramilitary force at the start of the protest.

Others face imminent execution after being hanged in connection with the protests, groups have warned.

“Mohsen Shekhari, a rioter who blocked Sattar Khan Boulevard and stabbed a Basij on September 25, was hanged in Tehran,” judicial authority Mizan Online reported.

Bassidji militias are linked to Iran’s ideological army, the Revolutionary Guards.

Amnesty International said it was “horrified” by the executions and condemned the “unfair sham trial”. “His execution exposes the inhumanity of Iran’s so-called justice system, as dozens face the same fate. »

“Bad Escalation”

Mahmoud Amiri-Moghadam, director of the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Group (IHR), called for a strong international response or “we will face mass executions of opponents”. “Mohsen Shekhari was hanged after a hasty trial without a lawyer. »

The execution drew outrage from Western nations and the UN.

The US condemned a “wicked escalation” and assured that Iranian power would be held to account.

“The Iranian regime’s contempt for humanity knows no bounds,” Berlin said. The Iranian ambassador to Berlin has been summoned, a source close to the German foreign ministry said on Thursday.

No other details regarding the summons have been leaked to the German ministry.

London said it was “outrageous” and Rome ruled that “the international community cannot remain indifferent to the unacceptable repression by the Iranian authorities”.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has ruled that the death penalty is “incompatible with human rights”.

Online media outlet 1500Tasvir released footage of what the Shekari family said was the moment they heard the news of the execution outside their home in Tehran. They saw a woman throbbing in pain and shouting, “Mohsen! »

According to Mizan Online, Mohsen Shekhari was accused of being an “enemy of God” and sentenced on November 1 by a revolutionary court in Tehran. His appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court on November 20.

“#do not activate”

The Iranian was charged with “drawing his weapon with intent to kill” and “causing terror,” according to judicial authorities.

The Iranian agency Fars aired a video of Mohsen Shekhari, who is close to the authorities, inciting the attack while he was in custody. “Compelled confessions”, denounced the IHR.

Iran’s judiciary sentenced five people to death for killing a paramilitary soldier during protests on Tuesday, bringing the number of protest-related executions to eleven.

The Iranian power describes the demonstrations as “riots” encouraged above all by its arch-enemy, the United States.

According to the IHR’s latest report, the crackdown on the movement since September 16 has killed at least 458 people.

According to Amnesty International, Iran executes more criminals than any other country except China. According to the IHR, more than 500 people were executed there in 2022.

Article 19 of the Free Speech Committee called for urgent action “because the lives of others on death row are in immediate danger.”

On Twitter, former Iranian soccer star Ali Karimi warned: “If we are silent today, we will not act tomorrow for the rest of Iran’s children.”