Iranian authorities have referred to the protests over the past two months as “riots”. Source: Shutterstock.
A person linked to the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran has become the first person to be handed down a death sentence by a Tehran court.
It’s believed the person, who remains unidentified, will be executed after the court found they set fire to a government building and were guilty of “enmity against God” and “corruption on Earth”.
The court also said the person will be executed on the basis of “disturbing public order and collusion for committing crimes against national security”. Reports suggest another five people were given prison sentences of up to 10 years.
About 20 other people are believed to be facing the death penalty but that has yet to be confirmed.
Protests were sparked almost three months ago after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was killed by Iran’s morality police for improperly wearing her hijab.
Iran's security forces repeatedly fire into a crowd of protesters at a Tehran metro station today.
Tehran's residents have been frequently chanting slogans against the regime in the city's metro stations during the protests.#مهسا_امینی #MahsaAminipic.twitter.com/ncVjWK3q4n
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) November 15, 2022
The United Nations has said that some 1000 people have recently been prosecuted in relation to the riots and that the decision by 227 members of parliament to use the death penalty as a punishment is abhorrent.
“With the continuous repression of protests, many more indictments on charges carrying the death penalty and death sentences might soon be issued, and we fear that women and girls, who have been at the forefront of protests, and especially women human rights defenders, who have been arrested and jailed for demanding the end of systemic and systematic discriminatory laws, policies and practices might be particularly targeted,” they said.
The UN has urged Iranian authorities to extinguish the death penalty and release protestors from prison. Since the beginning of the protests, over 300 people have been confirmed killed including 41 children and 24 women.
Businesses and consumers around Iran have entered a strike which will see shops closed for three days with people vowing to not sell or buy anything in protest.
It’s been reported that close to 60 bazaars in 36 cities around Iran will be closed during this period.
Demonstrators outside stores could be heard chanting “This year is a year of blood; Seyyed Ali will be toppled!”.
The UN has called on the Human Rights Council to investigate the situation and has implored Iranian authorities to take accountability for their actions.
