By JON GAMBRELL (Associated Press)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran mentioned Thursday it executed a prisoner convicted for against the law allegedly dedicated throughout the nation’s ongoing nationwide protests, the primary such demise penalty carried out by Tehran.
The execution of Mohsen Shekari comes as different detainees additionally face the potential for the demise penalty for his or her involvement within the protests, which started in mid-September, first as an outcry in opposition to Iran’s morality police. The protests have expanded into probably the most severe challenges to Iran’s theocracy for the reason that 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Activists warn that others is also put to demise within the close to future, saying that no less than a dozen folks to date have obtained demise sentences over their involvement within the demonstrations.
The execution “must be met with strong reactions otherwise we will be facing daily executions of protesters,” wrote Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights. “This execution must have rapid practical consequences internationally.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Shekari’s execution in a Twitter submit, saying “the Iranian regime’s contempt for humanity is limitless.”
The Mizan information company, run by Iran’s judiciary, mentioned Shekari had been convicted in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, which generally holds closed-door instances. The tribunals have been internationally criticized for not permitting these on trial to choose their very own attorneys and even see the proof in opposition to them.
Shekari was accused of blocking a road in Tehran and attacking with a machete a member of the safety forces, who required stitches for his wounds, the company mentioned.
The Mizan report additionally alleged that Shekari mentioned he had been supplied cash by an acquaintance to assault the safety forces.
Iran’s authorities for months has been making an attempt to allege — with out providing proof — that overseas international locations have fomented the unrest. Protesters say they’re offended over the collapse of the economic system, heavy-handed policing and the entrenched energy of the nation’s Islamic clergy.
Mizan mentioned Shekari had been arrested on Sept. 25, then convicted on Nov. 20 on the cost of “moharebeh,” a Farsi phrase which means “waging war against God.” That cost has been levied in opposition to others within the many years since 1979 and carries the demise penalty. Mizan mentioned an enchantment by Shekari’s lawyer in opposition to the sentence failed.
After his execution, Iranian state tv aired a closely edited package deal displaying the courtroom and elements of Shekari’s trial, presided over by Judge Abolghassem Salavati.
Salavati faces U.S. sanctions for meting out harsh punishments.
“Salavati alone has sentenced more than 100 political prisoners, human right activists, media workers and others seeking to exercise freedom of assembly to lengthy prison terms as well as several death sentences,” the U.S. Treasury mentioned in sanctioning him in 2019.
“Judges on these Revolutionary Courts, including Salavati, have acted as both judge and prosecutor, deprived prisoners of access to lawyers and intimidated defendants.”
Iran has been rocked by protests for the reason that Sept. 16 demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by the nation’s morality police. At least 475 folks have been killed within the demonstrations amid a heavy-handed safety crackdown, in accordance with Human Rights Activists in Iran, a gaggle that’s been monitoring the protests since they started. Over 18,000 have been detained by authorities.
Iran is among the world’s prime executioners. It sometimes executes prisoners by hanging. Already, Amnesty International mentioned it obtained a doc signed by one senior Iranian police commander asking an execution for one prisoner be “completed ‘in the shortest possible time’ and that his death sentence be carried out in public as ‘a heart-warming gesture towards the security forces.’”
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Associated Press author Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”