Death Sentence of Mujahid Korkor, Protester from Izeh, Confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court

Mujahid Korkor's sister announced that the death sentence for this protester accused of "moharebeh and ifsad fil-arz" in Izeh, Khuzestan province, has been confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Negar Korkor, sister of Abbas Korkori known as "Mujahid Korkor," stated on Sunday, December 24, in an Instagram message that the death sentence against her brother has been sent from the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz to Izeh. Mujahid Korkor, a citizen from Izeh, has been accused by Iranian officials of being involved in the shooting on November 16, 2022, against citizens of Izeh during nationwide protests; an allegation that has been repeatedly denied by the victims of that incident, including the family of Kian Pirfalak. In her video message, Negar Korkor confirmed that the death sentence for Mujahid Korkor, which was issued by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz, has been confirmed by the 39th branch of the Supreme Court. Negar Korkor emphasized her brother's innocence and called on "all people of Iran" to be his voice. The media of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has accused Mujahid Korkor of killing several citizens, including Kian Pirfalak, a child who lost his life during the nationwide protests in 2022 in Izeh, Khuzestan. The Pirfalak family, including Kian's mother, has repeatedly rejected this claim, stating that their child was killed due to gunfire from government forces. The hearing for the charges against Abbas (Mujahid) Korkori, a resident of Izeh, was held in late Esfand 1401 (March 2023) at the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz, where the public prosecutor described his charges as "moharebeh and ifsad fil-arz." Other charges against Mujahid Korkor include "disturbing public order and causing major bodily harm resulting in the death of seven people, including Kian Pirfalak, causing damage to public and private property, forming opposition groups and membership in them through armed uprising against the Islamic Republic." Meanwhile, Negar Korkor stated to VOA in August that she personally participated in the protests on the day Kian Pirfalak was killed and that her brother was not present at the scene. Zeynab Molaei Rad, Kian Pirfalak's mother, also reacted to the accusations against individuals like Abbas (Mujahid) Korkori, Bahman Bahmani, Hossein, and Mahmoud, stating, "As Kian's mother, I will never accept anyone from my fellow citizens being introduced as a murderer." Additionally, Meysam Pirfalak, Kian's father, who was severely injured in that incident, emphasized, "We saw with our own eyes that security forces shot at us and Kian." The Revolutionary Court in Khuzestan has also faced several other protesters, including Bahman Bahmani, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Behrouz Salhashour, Rasoul Badaghi, Vahid Abbasi, Reza Arabpour, Sadegh Qasemi, and Ismail Mousavi Nazari, in a joint case related to the nationwide protests in Izeh with similar charges. In addition to the death sentence for Mujahid Korkor and the detention of several protesters on charges of "moharebeh and ifsad fil-arz," armed forces of the Islamic Republic have previously targeted several protesters in Izeh. In this regard, an informed source in the city previously told VOA, "The revolution that started last year is still continuing beneath the surface of the city," and the security apparatus of the Islamic Republic "knows this." Following the killing of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, nationwide protests erupted in Iran. In addition to the deaths of over 500 protesters, including women and children, during the peaceful protests' suppression by government forces, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has executed several protesters through trials that human rights organizations have deemed theatrical. Previously, Amnesty International issued a statement warning of the serious risk of execution for several other protesters, including Mujahid Korkor and Reza Rasayi. Mujahid Korkor's sister told VOA about the security pressures on the family.