Death Sentences for Eight Defendants of the Attack on Parliament and Khomeini's Tomb Sent for Execution

The head of the Tehran Revolutionary Courts announced that the death sentences for eight defendants involved in the attack on the Iranian Parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini have been sent to the prosecutor's office for execution. On Friday, July 6, Mousa Ghazanfarabadi stated in an interview with the Fars news agency that these sentences will be executed after receiving permission from the head of the judiciary. He announced that these individuals were sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court for 'aiding in rebellion (armed uprising against the Islamic ruler).' Ghazanfarabadi had previously reported on Tuesday, June 11, that the Supreme Court had confirmed the death sentences for these eight individuals. According to Iranian media reports, the case of these attacks has 26 defendants, with the trial for the remaining 18 defendants scheduled to take place in the coming months. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, had previously reported that all defendants present in this court were arrested between June 7 and June 27, 2017. In the attack on the Iranian Parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini on June 7, 2017, five of the attackers were killed, and the Ministry of Intelligence announced their names as Ramin, Qayoom, Fereydoun, Abu Jihad, and Saryas without mentioning their last names. Iranian security sources also reported the arrest of an Iranian woman who allegedly played a 'guiding' role for the attackers at Khomeini's tomb. However, security officials have not commented on the name and status of this individual. Following the attack, Iranian security and judicial officials reported the arrest of dozens of individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State group in various regions of Iran. In recent years, the Ministry of Intelligence has reported the arrest of several groups allegedly 'affiliated' with ISIS without providing details.