Amnesty International Warns of Execution of 8 Protesters

Amnesty International announced that the lives of eight individuals in Iran, sentenced to death in connection with protests following the killing of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, are at risk. The organization called for action against the execution of these sentences, warning of the imminent threat. It states that authorities have severely violated the right to a fair trial for these prisoners, subjecting many of them to torture and other ill-treatment, including beatings, electric shocks, and sexual violence. Concerns are increasing over the execution of these prisoners, who participated in protests known as the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, amid ongoing executions. The names of these eight political prisoners are Fazl Bahramian, Toumaj Salehi, Mahmoud Mehrabi, Mostafa Mohammad Khodrnejad, Manouchehr Mehmannavaz, Mehran Bahramian, Mojahid (Abbas) Korkori, and Reza (Gholamreza) Rasayi. The organization has prepared a letter calling for signatures to be sent to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, as well as to the Islamic Republic's representation in the European Union. Amnesty International also expressed concern over the imminent execution of 15 others and noted that previously, nine others related to the protests following Mahsa Amini's death in custody in September 2022 were executed following 'severely unjust sham trials.' Additionally, it stated that seven more individuals are at risk of receiving death sentences. Amnesty International emphasized that the death of Ebrahim Raisi should not impede 'the right of the Iranian people to achieve justice, truth, and compensation.' Senate Republicans referred to Ebrahim Raisi as 'the butcher of Tehran' and condemned condolences for his death; Blinken faces mounting criticism. Continued pressure on the family of Majidreza Rahnavard; dozens were arrested in a cemetery in Mashhad.