Iran on Sunday issued its first death sentence linked to participation in “riots,” amid nationwide protests since the death of Mahsa Amini, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.
Many demonstrators flooded the street following protests over death of Mahsa Amini following her death in police custody.
Iran’s Revolutionary Court has sentenced a protester to death and handed down jail terms to five others amongst those arrested for participating in protests that have swept Iran over the past weeks demanding an end to clerical rule.
The accused was sentenced in a Tehran court to death for the crime of “setting fire to a government building, disturbing public order, assembly and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security, and an enemy of God and corruption on earth.”
Thousands of peaceful protesters have been arrested since 16 September, including many women, children and youth, lawyers, human rights defenders and activists.
The rulings are subject to appeal, and further details of the case will not be published until the final verdict.
Prior to Sunday, people involved in the protests were charged with crimes carrying the death penalty, namely “waging war against God,” and “corruption on earth.”
“We urge Iranian authorities to stop using the death penalty as a tool to squash protests,” the U.N. said in a statement, reiterating the organization’s call to release protesters.
Ramin Forouzandeh, an Iranian PhD candidate based in Toronto said “I think they are testing their limits. I can say with confidence that if the protests calm down, they will start hanging the prisoners and double down on repression.”
