Iraqi activist arrests for ‘insulting’ Iran-backed militia
Iraqi activist Haidar al-Zaidi sentenced to three years in prison. Zaidi accused...
Iran executes first protester
Iran has declared the first public execution of a protester.
Mohsen Shekari was executed, according to the Iranian judiciary’s website.
Accused of stabbing a security officer with a knife and blocking a Tehran roadway, he was convicted of “waging war against God.”
Just over a month passed between the man’s first court hearing and his execution, demonstrating the rapidity with which Iranian authorities have committed to prosecute “riot” cases.
Shekari, 23, was arrested on September 25, a week after protests erupted across Iran following the death in detention of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not conforming to Iran’s mandated dress code for women.
Shekari was executed Thursday morning after the country’s Supreme Court upheld his preliminary death sentence.
According to claimed confessions provided by the judiciary, “Ali” offered Shekari “big money to join in the riots” and gave him a long knife.
Shekari allegedly helped seal up a roadway in Tehran’s Sattarkhan neighborhood before hitting a security officer in the shoulder.
“Creating panic and fear and robbing people of freedom and security” were additional charges.
Amnesty International warned earlier this month that at least 28 individuals could be executed in Iran in connection with the protests.
Judiciary chairman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei said earlier this week that “certain” previous death judgments for “corruption on Earth” and “waging war against God” in relation to the protests had been upheld by the Supreme Court and “will be carried out shortly.”
The first death judgment relating to the protests was given on November 14. Five persons were condemned to death on Tuesday for allegedly killing a Basij militia.
Eleven others, including three kids, received long prison terms.
This week, Iran hanged four people accused of cooperating with Israeli intelligence in a case unrelated to the protests.
UN human rights experts have urged on Iran to cease murdering inmates in relation to the protests, but Iranian authorities have persevered, saying they must defend the country against schemes by foreign powers, especially the U.S., which they accuse of being behind the unrest.
The UN Human Rights Council approved last month to launch a fact-finding team to probe Iran’s protests, but Tehran indicated it wouldn’t cooperate due to its “political” nature.
Tehran has also opposed a December 14 resolution to exclude Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Thursday’s execution followed three days of online-called protests and strikes.
Videos online showed Wednesday night protests in Tehran and other locations. Videos from state-affiliated media showed open stores amid strikes.
Catch all the Business News, Breaking News Event and Latest News Updates on The BOL News
Download The BOL News App to get the Daily News Update & Live News.