Abbas and Mohsen Deris, detainees from the November 2019 protests, to be tried on October 21

Fareshteh Tabaniyan, the lawyer for Abbas and Mohsen Deris, detainees from the November 2019 protests, announced that the hearing for the charges against her two clients will be held on October 21 in the Third Criminal Court. Ms. Tabaniyan wrote on her page on X that the charges against Abbas and Mohsen Deris are 'premeditated murder and complicity in premeditated murder.' She noted that the consent of the Seyyadi family had previously been obtained and added: 'The response to the request for permission from the Deputy of the Judiciary, who agreed to the blood money, has also been received.' Abbas Deris, a protester from the November 2019 protests and a survivor of the massacre of protesters in the marshes of Mahshahr by government forces, is involved in this case. A source close to Abbas Deris had previously told Voice of America that his wife suffered a stroke and died after hearing about his death sentence. He has three children who are now left without a guardian. Additionally, see: Abbas Deris's lawyer: The family of the killed officer says he is not a murderer. According to the news site 'Emtidad' on July 25, Mahmoud Behzadi Rad, one of Abbas Deris's lawyers, emphasized that 'given the existence of sufficient evidence' showing that this imprisoned protester is not a 'mohareb' (enemy of God), his lawyers are hopeful for the annulment of his verdict. This lawyer stated after the news of the suspension of Abbas Deris's sentence that his case 'has several fundamental flaws' and that the lawyers have 'explicitly' pointed them out; first, that Abbas Deris 'has no private complainant, and the heirs of the killed police officer have also, while 'officially expressing consent,' believe that 'Abbas Deris is not a murderer.' He also referred to the 'initial expert report' from the scene of the incident, adding that 'the shot was fired from a distance of 25 to 40 meters,' and in the third expert report, it was stated that 'the shot was fired from a distance of 120 meters.' Mahmoud Behzadi Rad emphasized that the distance from where Abbas Deris was present to where officials say the police officer was killed is 'about 170 meters.' This lawyer stated that the Judiciary did not accept the request of Abbas Deris's lawyers to 'form a five-member committee' and said that 'the case has gone to Branch 39 of the Supreme Court and has been confirmed,' but his lawyers were able to obtain a 'stay of execution' order by submitting a 'request for retrial' so that his case 'can be reviewed.' Mr. Behzadi Rad added that 'he has spoken with the head of the court branch in the Supreme Court' and stated: 'We will provide the notarized consent documents of the heirs of the killed officer' and 'there is sufficient evidence in the case file indicating that my client is not a mohareb.' Mr. Behzadi Rad stated that the family of the victim 'with the collection of testimonies from the trusted individuals of the local Hosseiniyeh' said they 'are even unwilling to receive blood money,' and said: 'We hope that in one to two months, my client's verdict will be overturned in the Supreme Court, and he will return to his family.'