In connection with the system-critical protests in Iran, a death sentence against a demonstrator has been confirmed. According to the Iranian judiciary, the Supreme Court on Saturday upheld a death sentence passed on a 32-year-old man last month. This is said to have run over six police officers in November. One police officer was killed and five were injured, the authority said on its website.
At the same time, the death sentence against an Iranian-Kurdish rapper was reversed by the Supreme Court. According to UN reporters, Saman J. was sentenced to death at the end of October because he had written songs criticizing the government. The verdict was overturned on Saturday, according to a report on the website. The rapper is now set to appear in court again.
Two executions already carried out
So far, two protesters have been executed in Iran for their involvement in protests that have been going on for more than three months, including rap musician Mohsen S. Both have been charged with “waging war against God”. According to Islamic legal opinion, this charge carries a death sentence. According to Iranian press reports, more than 20 other demonstrators are on the judiciary’s death list.
According to Iranian activists and human rights groups abroad, more than 500 people died during the protests – mainly demonstrators, but also security forces. More than 18,500 demonstrators are said to have been arrested. Iran has not confirmed this information, but has not denied it either. Tehran’s brutal crackdown on the demonstrators, and in particular the two executions, were condemned at home and abroad.
