Iranian Court Sentences Four Protesters to Death on Espionage Charges
An Iranian Revolutionary Court has sentenced four defendants, arrested during the January protests, to death on charges of conducting operational activities for hostile states and the Zionist regime. The defendants, identified as Mohammadreza Majidi Asl, Bita Hemmati, Behrouz Zamani Nejad, and Kourosh Zamani Nejad, were also given five-year prison terms and had their assets confiscated. A fifth defendant received a prison sentence of five years and eight months. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that the verdict, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, cited participation in rallies, property damage, and alleged coordination with hostile groups as evidence. HRANA highlighted severe procedural irregularities, including forced confessions extracted through torture, denial of legal counsel, and a lack of transparent evidence linking specific charges to the individuals. This ruling aligns with recent statements by Judiciary Head Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, who declared a wartime posture against political dissent. The sentences contribute to a recent surge in executions in Iran, where authorities have intensified crackdowns on protesters under the guise of national security exigencies, drawing significant criticism from human rights organizations regarding due process violations.
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Iranian Court Sentences Four Protesters to Death on Espionage Charges
An Iranian Revolutionary Court has sentenced four defendants, arrested during the January protests, to death on charges of conducting operational activities for hostile states and the Zionist regime. The defendants, identified as Mohammadreza Majidi Asl, Bita Hemmati, Behrouz Zamani Nejad, and Kourosh Zamani Nejad, were also given five-year prison terms and had their assets confiscated. A fifth defendant received a prison sentence of five years and eight months. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that the verdict, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, cited participation in rallies, property damage, and alleged coordination with hostile groups as evidence. HRANA highlighted severe procedural irregularities, including forced confessions extracted through torture, denial of legal counsel, and a lack of transparent evidence linking specific charges to the individuals. This ruling aligns with recent statements by Judiciary Head Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, who declared a wartime posture against political dissent. The sentences contribute to a recent surge in executions in Iran, where authorities have intensified crackdowns on protesters under the guise of national security exigencies, drawing significant criticism from human rights organizations regarding due process violations.
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