Rabat- Iran today executed 23-year-old protester Mohsen Shekari, sparking worldwide outrage only days after the country decided to dismantle its infamous morality police.
Iran’s judiciary Mizan news outlet detailed that Shekari was blocking a road on Sattar Khan Street in Tehran on September 25 during an anti-government protest; he escaped arrest but was later found and detained on October 3.
On November 1 Iran’s Revolutionary Court found Shekari guilty of “moharebeh” (war or enmity against God). Iranian official media confirmed the young Iranian man was executed by hanging on December 8.
Shekari was hit with the charges while he was protesting following the death of Mahsa Amini who died shortly after she was arrested for not complying with Iran’s strict hijab laws.
One of the charges Shekari faced was that he harmed a military official by beating him; he was also accused of using a weapon that caused lacerations on the guard’s left shoulder which required stitches.
British Foreign Minister James Cleverly denounced the execution, writing on Twitter: “The world cannot turn a blind eye to the abhorrent violence committed by the Iranian regime against its own people.”
Similarly, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her outrage on Twitter, stressing: “But the threat of execution will not stifle people’s will for freedom.”
In a news briefing, spokesperson for France’s Foreign Ministry Anne-Claire Legendre commented that Shekari’s outrageous killing by the Iranian regime came in addition to “other serious and unacceptable violations.”
Activists have joined in the global outrage, arguing that Shekari was executed without proper process following what they called a “show trial.”
Iran Human Rights denounced the fact that the defendant was denied the right to a lawyer throughout the interrogation process or during legal proceedings.
Iran’s Far news agency aired Shekari’s “confession” hours after his execution.
But human rights organizations and other media outlets have noted that the video showed visible bruising to the defendant’s face, and that the confession was forced.
Director of Iran’s Human rights group Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam warned: “If Mohsen Shekari’s execution is not met with serious consequences for the government,we will face mass execution of protesters.”
The Iranian court has also announced that a further 10 people have been sentenced to death, but no other executions have been carried out as of yet.
All of those who have been handed the death penalty were arrested on similar charges to Shekari and were also protesting. However, their identities have not been released.
Read Also: Iran’s General Attorney Announces Dismantling Morality Police
