• Sat. Apr 20th, 2024

Iran Issues First Death Sentence To Protesters

File photo showing people gathered around a fire during an anti-government protest sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, in Tehran, Iran (21 September 2022)
Image caption,Iran’s leaders have portrayed the anti-government protests as “riots” instigated by foreign enemiesa

A court in Iran has issued death sentence to a person arrested for taking part in the protests that has engulfed the country.

According to state media the court said the defendant, who was not named, had set fire to a government facility and was guilty of “enmity against God”.

Another court jailed five people for between five and 10 years on national security and public order charges.

Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei declared that “key perpetrators” should be identified as soon as possible and handed sentences that would have a deterrent effect on others.

Protests against Iran’s clerical establishment erupted two months ago after the death in custody of a young woman detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict hijab rules.

According to Iran Human rights atleast 326 protesters, including 43 children and 25 women, have been killed in a violent crackdown by security forces.

Director of a Norway based human rights , Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, called on the international community to take urgent action and “strongly warn the Islamic Republic of the consequences of executing protesters.

BBC