Iran has sentenced dozens of people to death over their alleged involvement in last month's nationwide protests, according to Amnesty International. The human rights group said at least 30 people are currently facing the death penalty, including at least nine hurriedly sentenced this month within weeks of their arrests.
At least 22 others, including two 17-year-olds, are assessed to be at risk of the death penalty and are awaiting legal proceedings that Amnesty says violate the right to a fair trial. The group said authorities have denied the accused access to independent lawyers since the crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in January.
Amnesty believes the regime is "weaponising the death penalty" to instil fear and crush the spirit of people demanding fundamental change, said Nassim Papayianni, senior campaigner on Iran at the organisation. She said the true number of people at risk could be "much higher" as families have been threatened against speaking out.
Among those sentenced to death is 18-year-old Saleh Mohammadi, who retracted his confessions in court, saying they were extracted under torture. Amnesty also identified 55-year-old Mohammad Abbasi, accused of killing a security officer, which his family denies. In a separate case, 19-year-old Mohammed Amin Biglari and six others were sentenced to death for "enmity against God" for allegedly setting a Basij base on fire.
The reports come just weeks after Iran released condemned protester Erfan Soltani on bail as US President Donald Trump threatened "very strong action" if the regime started executing protesters. Rights groups, including Amnesty and Hengaw, say thousands of people have been killed in the crackdown on protests that began over economic grievances and spread across the country.
