Who is Majid Reza Rahnavard, the younger man hanged in public for collaborating within the protests in Iran

A courtroom in Iran convicted him of “enmity in opposition to God” for allegedly stabbing to loss of life two members of the Basij paramilitary resistance power. Human rights teams have warned that protesters are being sentenced to loss of life in sham trials and with out attorneys to defend them.

Rahnavard was hanged simply 23 days after his arrest and earlier than the statutory 20-day deadline to attraction. In the photographs on social networks you’ll be able to see a person hanging from a cable within the presence of a number of witnesses, it’s not clear what number of or who they have been.

The younger man’s mom was capable of go to him whereas he was in custody, however was not knowledgeable of the execution till after his loss of life. When the household went to the cemetery, the safety brokers have been burying his physique.

Second execution for the protests

The NGO Human Rights Watch has identified that the execution of two demonstrators by the Iranian authorities in reference to the anti-government protests is “a critical judicial error and a harmful escalation”. “The trials of these dealing with protest-related capital fees have been an entire travesty of justice,” stated Tara Sepehri Far, Iran researcher at HRW.

Last week, the regime introduced the primary execution of a protest participant in Iran. It was about Mohsen Shekari, additionally 23 years outdated, investigated for injuring a police officer and blocking a street.

The group has denounced that the fees in opposition to the protesters are “loosely worded” crimes, which embrace nationwide safety fees akin to enmity in opposition to God, corruption on earth or armed riot. In addition, courtroom proceedings wherein attorneys of the defendants’ alternative usually are not permitted to take part “don’t seem to fulfill worldwide requirements.”

“Defendants are reportedly tortured into confessing, denied entry to attorneys of their alternative, and rushed by judicial procedures that circumvent the safeguards of Iran’s personal penal code and legal process regulation.” , added the NGO.

More than 18,000 detainees

Authorities have issued no less than 1,680 indictments throughout the nation in reference to the protests, in keeping with official statements, whereas human rights teams estimate that greater than 18,000 folks have been arrested as a part of the social demonstrations. Iran is among the international locations that makes use of the loss of life penalty most steadily, figures from Human Rights organizations estimate that greater than 300 residents have been executed between March 21 and September 12, HRW collects.

“The Iranian authorities should instantly cease these trials and annul the loss of life sentences,” reads the NGO’s assertion. The protests in Iran started final September after the loss of life of the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, in police custody after being arrested for carrying the veil or hijab incorrectly.