Iran sentences three more to death over rioting during protests

Tehran, Iran (AFP):

Iran has sentenced to death three more people accused of killing members of the security forces during protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s custodial death.

Iran has been rocked by civil unrest since the September 16 death in custody of Kurdish Iranian Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code for women.

The latest sentences, which can still be appealed, bring to 17 the total number of people given the death sentence in connection with nearly four months of protests.

Four executions have been carried out and six of those sentenced to capital punishment have been granted retrials.

Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were sentenced to death on charges of “moharebeh” — or waging “war against God.”

In addition, according to official sources, they were all found guilty of belonging to a “criminal group with the intention of disrupting the security of the country”, a charge that carries a 10-year jail term.

Two others were handed prison terms for the incident that led to the deaths of the three security force members in the central province of Isfahan on November 16, Mizan said.

One of them is professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani, 26, who received sentences totalling 26 years in prison on three different charges including assisting in “moharebeh”.

According to Iranian law, however, he should serve them concurrently, meaning he would be behind bars for 16 years.

Nasr-Azadani’s case and the risk of him being sentenced to death had raised alarm abroad, mainly by FIFPRO, the world union of professional footballers.

All the sentences announced can be appealed before the country’s supreme court, Mizan said.

‘Treason’ 

Iranian authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested during the protests.

According to Tehran, foreign countries hostile to Iran as well as opposition groups have stoked the unrest in the country in order to destabilize it.

“The goal of people present in the riots was not to overcome the country’s weaknesses but to destroy its strengths”, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told an audience in Tehran on Monday.

Khamenei blamed “economic and livelihood problems” for the unrest but said “burning trash cans and rioting in the streets” were not acceptable responses.

“Undoubtedly, these actions are treason, and the responsible institutions deal with treason seriously and justly,” he added.

The executions have sparked global outrage and new Western sanctions against Tehran.