Death Sentences Issued for 6 Detained Protesters in the Ekbatan Case

The lawyer of some defendants in the "Ekbatan Children" case announced that the Tehran Criminal Court has issued death sentences for six of the detained protesters in this case. Babak Paknia, a lawyer, stated on Wednesday, November 23, that Milad Armon, Alireza Kafayi, Amir Mohammad Khoshghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Naimati, and Alireza Barmarzpournak were sentenced to death (Qisas) by the advisors of the 13th branch of the Criminal Court. According to Mr. Paknia, the head of the branch opposed this ruling and issued a minority opinion. He also mentioned that these sentences are subject to appeal. Reza Shafakhah, another lawyer, confirmed this news in a similar report. Previously, Hossein Naimati, Alireza Barmarzpournak, Alireza Kafayi, and Amir Mohammad Khoshghbal had been released on bail from Ghezelsar Prison in Bahman 1402, but were re-arrested on Sunday, November 13, after attending court. Meanwhile, Milad Armon, Mohammad Mahdi Hosseini, Mahdi Imani, and Navid Najaran had been held for months in detention centers of the IRGC and Ghezelsar Prison without clarity on their status. In mid-June, Foad Chubin, the uncle of the deceased protester Artin Rahmani, revealed that he had been subjected to "physical and psychological torture" for about 40 days in the IRGC detention center to force him into a "forced confession." In early Aban 1401, during nationwide protests following the death of a Basij member named Arman Alivardi in the Ekbatan neighborhood, over 50 young residents were arrested by security forces, and indictments were issued for 14 of them, with 8 young people facing charges of murder or complicity in the murder of the Basij member. According to the indictment, these protesters were charged with offenses including "Moharebeh," "participation in intentional murder," and "disruption of public order and tranquility." Independent reports and human rights sources indicate that the defendants in the "Ekbatan neighborhood" case were subjected to severe torture during detention and forced to confess against themselves and other defendants. In this regard, the Iran Human Rights Campaign wrote on social media: "The issuance of brutal Qisas sentences for six defendants in the Ekbatan case is another indication of blatant lawlessness, the presence of security-affiliated judges, and the continuation of repression and oppression policies in the corrupt judicial system of the Islamic Republic." Masih Alinejad, a human rights activist and journalist, also wrote on social media: "I urge the international community: do not look away. Come to the aid of the people of Iran. Help us stop this cycle of violence. We need you to raise your voice, pressure the regime, and save the lives of these young men before it is too late." In recent days, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, May Sato, has expressed concern about the human rights situation under the Islamic Republic, particularly regarding violations of freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the increasing number of executions.