Ejei Announces Death Sentences for Two More Currency and Goods Smugglers

On Sunday, November 20, the spokesperson for Iran's judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, announced the issuance of death sentences for "two economic offenders involved in currency and goods smuggling" in special economic courts. He informed reporters during a press conference that the sentences against Dariush Ebrahimi and Younes Bahadadini, who have been charged with "corruption on earth," have not yet been confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court and are thus "not final." The issuance of these death sentences follows repeated warnings from Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, who stated that some individuals are attempting to "exploit economic tensions." Concurrently with the onset of the second round of U.S. sanctions against Iran, targeting the oil, banking, airline, and financial sectors, Larijani had stated that the judiciary would deal with "those seeking easy wealth and exploiting economic tensions" without leniency. Recently, following reports of abuses by some recipients of state currency, Larijani suggested in a letter to the Supreme Leader that branches of the Islamic Revolutionary Court be established with three judges to handle cases of "economic corruption." Ejei also mentioned that, apart from those sentenced to death, the convictions of other individuals tried in these courts are "final." He further reported that prison sentences and asset confiscation have been issued for ten other defendants in this special court, with three of the sentences related to the special economic court in Shiraz and the rest pertaining to Tehran. The spokesperson also noted that "besides these cases, there are other individuals whose convictions have been announced, but due to their cases not being related to the special economic courts and the authorization of the head of the judiciary, I am currently unable to provide details on their cases." Previously, others had faced various sentences, including death sentences, from these special courts, with the death sentences of Vahid Malakoutian, known in Iranian media as the "Sultan of Coins," and Mohammad Ismail Qasemi confirmed by the Supreme Court. The case of another defendant named Hamid Bagheri Damani, who was sentenced to death for corruption in the first instance, has not yet been reviewed by Iran's Supreme Court. Following intensified currency fluctuations in Iran in recent months and protests that occurred in July in the Tehran market and several commercial complexes in the city, the Supreme Leader requested the judiciary to confront "those disrupting economic security." Subsequently, Larijani stated: "Listen carefully, take the cotton out of your ears and open your eyes; disrupting the country's economic system carries very heavy penalties, and if it constitutes corruption on earth, it carries the death penalty."