Dying To Be Free

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An Iranian court issued the first death sentence against a protester linked to the unrest that has gripped Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody two months ago, Axios reported Monday.

The judiciary-linked Iranian website, Mizan Online, said the protester was sentenced to death for taking part in “riots” and accused him of multiple felonies, including burning a government building, as well as being “an enemy of God and corruption on Earth.”

Five other people were sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years for “gathering and conspiring to commit crimes against national security and disturbing public order.”

The sentences come as mass protests continue across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini in September. She died after Iran’s morality police had detained her for wearing an “improper hijab,” the country’s mandatory head covering.

Her death sparked unprecedented criticism of Iran’s ultra-conservative government as well as calls for it to step down. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have responded with violence and also charged more than 2,000 people for participating in the demonstrations. Many of these individuals have been charged with crimes that carry the death penalty such as “waging war against God.”

The Norway-based non-governmental organization Iran Human Rights estimates that at least 326 people have been killed in the unrest, considered one of the largest sustained challenges to Iran’s regime since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, CNBC noted.

Meanwhile, United Nations officials urged Iran to stop using the death penalty and immediately release all protesters.

They warned that the government might issue more death sentences.