"Enemy of God and Corruption of the World" ... Iran Issues First Death Sentence to Anti-Government Protester in 'Hijab Suspicious Death' Case

272 out of 290 Iranian Parliament Members Demand Death Penalty Saying 'An Eye for an Eye, A Tooth for a Tooth'
Human Rights Groups Warn of At Least 20 Facing Death Sentences and Express Concern Over Rapid Executions

Protest condemning the suspicious death of Mahsa Amini held in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Iranian judicial authorities have sentenced a protester to death for the first time since anti-government protests were sparked by the 'hijab suspicious death.' On the 13th (local time), AFP reported, citing Mizan Online, a website operated by the Iranian judiciary, that an Iranian court sentenced a protester to death for arson of a government building, disturbing public order, and conspiring to violate national security. Mizan Online also stated that the protester's charges included being an "enemy of God and corruption on earth."

Additionally, another court in Tehran sentenced five people to prison terms ranging from 5 to 10 years for conspiring to commit crimes against national security and disturbing public order, according to Mizan.

In Iran, protests against the authoritarian regime have continued for nearly two months since Mahsa Amini (22), a Kurdish Iranian, was arrested and died for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly in September. As authorities violently suppressed the protests, resulting in hundreds of casualties so far, this is the first time the judiciary has handed down a death sentence.

Earlier, out of 290 members of the Iranian parliament, 272 called for death sentences to be imposed on those who caused harm to life and property with knives and guns earlier this month, based on the principle of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

Mehdi Amiri Moghadam, head of the Norway-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), reported that at least 20 people are currently at risk of receiving death sentences. Moghadam expressed concern that "the executions may be carried out swiftly" and appealed, "The international community must step in and send a strong warning that executions of protesters are unacceptable."

According to IHR, as of the 12th, at least 326 people have lost their lives during the suppression of protests by Iranian military and police forces. This includes 43 minors and 25 women. The organization explained that since the protests began in September, deaths have been reported in a total of 22 provinces, and at least 1,000 people in Tehran alone have been prosecuted for participating in the protests. While the international community condemns the use of the death penalty as a tool to suppress protests, Iran maintains a hardline stance, claiming that U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies pre-planned the protests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.