Iran executes first protester in protests sweeping country

Iran executed a man this Thursday (8), accused of wounding a paramilitary unit and blocking traffic on a street in Tehran on September 25, during demonstrations that have been going on for nearly three months in the country. The protest movement was triggered after the killing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who was detained by police for violating the law mandating the use of the hijab.

According to Iran’s Judiciary Mizan Online, Mohsen Shekari blocked Sattar Khan Boulevard and injured a member of the Bassidj paramilitary with an ax, who was acting to suppress demonstrations on behalf of the government.

In total, 11 people could be sentenced to death for participating in the demonstrations. The preliminary decision was announced by the revolutionary court in Tehran on 1 November. The appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court on 20 November.

According to Iranian justice, Mohsen Shekari was found guilty of using weapons “with the purpose of killing, inciting terrorism and creating disorder, endangering the security of society”. According to the Iranian justice agency, the injured Bassidj militia member received 13 stitches. The accused Sheikari tried to escape, but was detained by the country’s authorities. In his interrogation, he admitted to the attack.

This Tuesday, Iranian justice condemned five people for the death of a paramilitary in the demonstrations. Thousands were accused of participating in the demonstrations and more than 2,000 were convicted, half of them in Tehran.

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At least 448 people were killed in the protests, according to a report by the Human Rights of Iran (IHR), an Oslo-based non-governmental organization.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 83, the supreme authority of the Islamic Republic, accuses the United States and its allies such as Israel of causing “unrest” in the country. “My concern has always been and always will be the Iranian people, especially women,” Hoseini wrote in the letter, accusing the regime of “bringing nothing but pain and oppression to the Iranians.”

(with information from AFP)