Thousands of people are in prison in Iran for taking part in anti-regime protests. Two were already executed in November. The Iranian judiciary has now confirmed the death sentences imposed on two other young men. You are not even 20 years old.
In Iran, two young men under the age of 20 face execution after receiving death sentences for their involvement in the nationwide protests. An 18-year-old has been sentenced to death for allegedly setting fire to a traffic police cottage in the western city of Novjar, the Oslo-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHR) said. The other young man is therefore 19 years old.
The only evidence against 18-year-old Mehdi M. is his confessions, which he extracted under torture. According to them, he was found guilty of "corruption on earth" and "enmity against God." These double charges resulted in a double death sentence. IHR director Mahmud Amiry-Moghaddam said that according to all available information, M. may be the youngest person sentenced to death in connection with the protests.
Also on Monday, the Iranian judiciary announced on its website "Misan Online" that the death sentence against 19-year-old Mohammed B. according to IHR on December 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court. This means that the convicted person can no longer appeal and can be executed at any time. For a short time on Monday, the report circulated that the sentence against Mohammed had been commuted to a one-year prison sentence.
B. was also tried for being an "enemy of God". The Iranian judiciary accuses him of attacking a security officer with a knife and "terrifying the citizens". He is also accused of "setting fire" to the administrative headquarters in the city of Pakdascht, south-east of the capital, Tehran.
According to its own statements, the Iranian judiciary has imposed a total of eleven death sentences in connection with the protests. Human rights organizations and activists assume a higher number. "The Islamic Republic, which failed to end the protests after 109 days, must resort to intimidation and executions to ensure its survival," said Amiry-Moghaddam.
Two death sentences have already been carried out. In December, in addition to the sentence against Mohammed B., another death sentence was confirmed. In the case of three other convicts, including a Kurdish rapper, a new trial has been scheduled by order of the Supreme Court. According to IHR, there are currently at least 100 people in Iranian prisons who are at risk of death for taking part in the protests against the mullahs' regime.
