Human Rights Campaign: Some Iranian Protesters Have Been Charged with 'Death Penalty Offenses'

The Human Rights Campaign in Iran announced that 'a large number' of detainees from the protests in January in the provinces of Hamadan and Khuzestan have been charged with 'Moharebeh' (waging war against God) and 'Efsad-e fel-arz' (corruption on earth), which could lead to the death penalty if confirmed by the court. On Thursday, January 25, the campaign reported on its website, citing 'an informed source' without specifying the exact number, that 'a large number' of detainees from the January protests, who are quarantined in Hamadan Central Prison, have been charged with 'Efsad-e fel-arz' and 'Moharebeh'. According to the report, these individuals were arrested during protests in the cities of Asadabad and Toyserkan. In the protests in Toyserkan, six protesters were reportedly killed according to Iranian television. The Human Rights Campaign in Iran also reported, citing 'an informed source' from the city of Izeh, that several detainees from protests in that city have also been charged with 'Moharebeh'. According to the report, out of about 400 protesters detained in this city, 350 have been released. The charges of 'Moharebeh and Efsad-e fel-arz', which are often applied in cases of armed resistance against the Islamic Republic, could lead to the death penalty if confirmed by the court. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the application of these charges is one of the 'tactics of the judiciary and security forces of the Islamic Republic to threaten people and increase the costs of street protests'. During the protests against the 2009 presidential election, several protesters were sentenced to death merely for being photographed throwing stones, but these sentences were later commuted to prison terms. According to Mahmoud Sadeghi, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, 3,700 people have been arrested during the protests. Previously, there were reports of suspicious deaths of several detainees, including Sina Ghanbari in Evin Prison and Vahid Heydari in Arak Prison, but Iranian officials stated that they had 'committed suicide'. Other reports have emerged regarding the deaths of Shahab Abtahi-Zadeh in Arak, Mohsen Adeli in Dezful, and Saro Ghahramani and Kianoush Zandi in Sanandaj during these protests, but Iranian officials have denied any connection between their deaths and the protests. Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of parliament, called on Sunday, January 21, for an investigation into the deaths of individuals who 'are said to have committed suicide in recent events in the country’s prisons'. Allahyar Malekshahi, the head of the parliamentary judiciary commission, announced on Sunday that six members of this commission have been selected to visit Evin Prison, and this visit will take place on Sunday, January 28. Meanwhile, Tayebeh Siavashi, a representative from Tehran, reported that the judiciary has removed the name of a female parliament member who was supposed to visit Evin Prison along with several other representatives. Shahindokht Molaverdi, special assistant to Hassan Rouhani on citizen rights, reported on Saturday, January 20, that a request to visit detention centers has been submitted to the judiciary but has not yet been approved. Ms. Molaverdi also stated on Friday that the judiciary has still not approved this request.