The Supreme Court on Saturday upheld a death sentence handed down against a 32-year-old man last month, Iran’s judiciary said. This is said to have run over six police officers in November. One police officer was killed and five 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 for writing songs criticizing the government. According to a message on the website, the verdict was overturned on Saturday. The rapper must now appear in court again.
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 the death penalty. According to Iranian press reports, more than 20 other protesters are on the judiciary’s death list.
According to Iranian activists and human rights organizations abroad, more than 500 people have been killed during the protests – mostly protesters, but also security forces. More than 18,500 demonstrators were reportedly arrested. Iran has neither confirmed nor denied this information. Tehran’s brutal crackdown on the demonstrators, and in particular the two executions, were condemned at home and abroad.
(SDA)