Iran youth face death penalty in connection with protests

A doctor, a rapper and a soccer player are among more than 20 Iranians who could be hanged after a death sentence, a scare tactic by the regime to quell protests, human rights groups say.

The first two executions linked to the Iranian protest movement, those of Mohsen Shekarion December 8, and that of Majesty Rahnavardon December 12, both 23 years old, have sparked protests and new Western sanctions, especially since Rahnavard was hanged in public and not in prison.

However, activists are calling for strong international action to prevent further executions.

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“Until the political cost of executions is significantly higher, we will face mass executions”warns Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddamgroup manager Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Norway, which accuses the Iranian authorities of using executions to “sow fear and save the regime.”

Iran has been rocked by protests following the death, on September 16, of Mahsa Aminia 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish girl who died after being detained by the morality police for violating the strict dress code required for women.

Since its founding in 1979, the Islamic Republic has been shaken by several waves of protest, but this crisis is unprecedented, neither for its duration, nor for the fact that it occurs in several provinces, involves different ethnic groups and social classes. and includes direct calls for the end of the regime.

According to International Amnestyanother 11 people were sentenced to death in the context of the protests and nine face death penalty charges.

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Amnesty cites the case of Sahand Nourmohammad-Zadeh, who was sentenced to death on 6 November after being found guilty of “destroy highway guardrails and burn garbage containers and tires.”

On Wednesday, a recently detained protester, Mahan Sadrat, was “saved from execution” stated his lawyer.

Amnesty said it feared execution.”imminent” of the 22-year-old, sentenced to death after a summary and “unfair” trial on November 3 after being found guilty of drawing a knife during protests.

A person in the Cypriot capital Nicosia checks a mobile phone on December 12, 2022 and displays a tweet about the Iranian authorities’ announced execution of Majidreza Rahnavard, the second death sentence linked to nearly three months of protests. (Photo by AFP) (-/)

“Serious risk”

Mohammad Ghobadlou22, was sentenced to death for running over police officers with a car, killing one and injuring several others.

According to Amnesty, “seriously concerned”, was tortured in prison. So was the rapper Saman Seydi, alias Saman Yasin, who supported the protest on social media and is accused of shooting into the air. According to Amnesty, he was tortured to extract a forced confession.

Hamid Ghare-Hasanloua doctor, and his wife Farzaneh Ghare-Hasanlou were on their way to the funeral of a slain protester when they saw “caught in chaos” of an attack on a member of the Basidj militia, according to Amnesty.

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Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou he was sentenced to death and his wife to 25 years in prison, and the court relied on statements that Amnesty said were forcibly extracted from his wife. Her husband was tortured during his detention and hospitalized with broken ribs.

Among those facing the death penalty is rapper Toomaj Salehi32 years old, accused “solely because of the criticism of his music and on social networks”adds Amnesty, and also in this case there are allegations of torture.

The professional footballer Amir Nasr Azadani26, also faces the death penalty after being charged with the deaths of three security guards in November in the city of Isfahan, according to the NGO.

Executions are often sudden, as the authorities approve and carry out the death sentences of “quick way”according to Amnesty, which warns of a “serious risk” for people whose death sentences have not been made public and who could be executed “anytime”.

Source: Elcomercio