23-year-old man accused of killing security guard at protest in Iran executed

A 23-year-old man was hanged in Iran on Monday for allegedly killing two Islamic security agents named Bassidjis. The incident comes four days after the execution of Mohsen Shekari, who was accused of stabbing a security guard during protests that have shaken the country for three months.

The hanging of Majid Reza Rahnavard took place in public this morning in the holy city of Macchad. He was arrested on 19 November. And only 20 days passed between his arrest and execution.

Rahnavard has joined many demonstrators who have taken to the streets of Iran in anti-government protests since the September 16 murder of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the morality police for violating the Republic’s strict dress code. and who died during his detention.

Authorities released two videos taken by security cameras to incriminate Majid Reza Rahnavard. In the videos, it is possible to see a person who is introduced as a teenager attacking someone in the middle of the street and stabbing him repeatedly. The attacker then stabs a second person who comes to intervene and provide assistance. Two basidji died at the scene. According to officials, the Iranian would have injured four more while fleeing.

Rahnavard was found guilty of “moharebeh”, the war against God, and corruption on Earth, and was sentenced to death. Human rights organizations denounce a rushed trial and the fact that the accused cannot choose his own lawyer.

Justice will not be affected

This is the second time four days apart. Mohsen Shekari, also 23, was hanged last Thursday (8) for stabbing another Islamic security agent.

Many Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi, stressed that those who caused the unrest would be prosecuted and punished, and that justice would not be affected by campaigns against the death penalty. It is a response to Western countries that harshly criticize the implementation of this maximum sentence and to the social media campaigns of many Iranians, especially artists, doctors and footballers, against this punishment.

On Saturday night (10), numerous silent demonstrations against the death penalty were held in Tehran and in the provinces, but were dispersed by rebel forces.