Mohammad Qabadi, Young Protester, Executed by the Islamic Republic on Tuesday Morning

According to Tasnim, a news agency close to the security institutions of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Qabadi, one of the detainees from last year's nationwide protests in Iran, was executed early on Tuesday, January 23, despite widespread domestic and international opposition and criticism, in Qazalhasar prison. Amir Reisiyaan, Qabadi's lawyer, announced on Monday that he had received the "execution order" for this young protester, stating that his client was scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, January 23. Many figures, organizations, and social media users had widely called for a halt to his execution. Mohammad Qabadi was accused of "corruption on earth" through "extensive actions against the motorcycle officers of the police force, resulting in the death of officer Vahid Kermpour Hasanvand and injuring five police officers". In response to the issuance of the execution order for Mohammad Qabadi, Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote on his social media pages: "Qabadi, like Reza Rasayi, the blind Mujahid, and others, faces death for fighting for a free Iran." He urged human rights organizations and Western governments to pressure the Islamic Republic to save this young man's life. Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, currently imprisoned in Evin prison in Tehran, stated in a message: "Let us not tire tonight. Everyone, in whatever way they can, should shout 'do not execute'." In this Instagram message, Ms. Mohammadi wrote: "I have gotten used to not thinking about freedom, but I wish I were free and could not leave Mohammad and his mother alone behind the prison wall tonight. Do not leave Mohammad's lonely mother alone behind the hard and ruthless prison wall tonight." Hamed Esmaeilioun, a member of the PS752 Families Association, wrote on Instagram: "The Islamic Republic issues death sentences in sham courts, with fabricated charges and without the presence of independent defense lawyers, and decides to carry them out." Masoumeh Ahmadi, Mohammad Qabadi's mother, asked the Kermpour family to refrain from executing her son. Mohsen Barahani, a lawyer and legal expert in Tehran, also stated: "The execution of Qabadi's sentence, while a retrial has been accepted by the Supreme Court and the court of equal jurisdiction has not yet commented on this matter, is either due to a mistake or a malicious act." According to Mr. Barahani, "If the rational members of the judiciary do not intervene in these few hours, blood will be shed contrary to the law." Political activist Hossein Ronaghi also wrote: "The execution of Mohammad Qabadi, while the Supreme Court has annulled his sentence, is murder. This is a crime." A representative of the German Parliament and Qabadi's political sponsor called for the halt of the execution of this protester and urged the German government to act decisively in this matter. Clara Bonger, a representative of the Left Party in the German Parliament, stated that the trial of Mohammad Qabadi was "not fair" and that it did not even conform to what is practiced in the Islamic Republic. She emphasized that this sentence and such trials must be stopped. The concern expressed by Qabadi's political sponsor comes as on Monday, Mr. Qabadi's lawyer reported receiving the "execution order" for this prisoner at risk of execution. Based on an image of this order published by Amir Reisiyaan, Mohammad Qabadi's lawyer, this "sentence will be executed on Tuesday, January 23". Clara Bonger told VOA: "I was shocked to hear about the imminent execution of Mohammad Qabadi, because just a few months ago the court decided to review the case. As a result, we had a good opportunity to catch our breath and work again on his case. But now hearing this news that he might be executed tomorrow is very shocking. I think this is another page in the activities of the ruling government in Iran because in this specific case and even compared to the operational processes of the Islamic Republic, illegal and strange actions were taken by the authority. Therefore, I am extremely worried." Qabadi's political sponsor added: "To the Islamic Republic of Iran, I say do not hang Mohammad Qabadi, give him a chance for a fair trial." Clara Bonger emphasized: "The German government must demand that the Islamic Republic end executions and not carry out these sentences anymore, as they are illegal sentences issued following illegal trials. Political prisoners must be released and, if pursued, must receive a fair trial. A trial governed by the rule of law, but in this case, there is none. Therefore, of course, and one hundred percent, the German government must raise this demand with the Islamic Republic." Mohammad Qabadi, a young protester arrested during the nationwide protests of 1401, was accused of "corruption on earth" through "extensive actions against the motorcycle officers of the police force, resulting in the death of officer Vahid Kermpour Hasanvand and injuring five police officers." In the initial ruling for this accused, a "retribution" sentence was issued, but this ruling was annulled and referred back for further consideration to an equal branch. After the initial ruling of "retribution" for Mohammad Qabadi was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, the mother of this condemned protester requested "pardon and forgiveness" from the family of the killed special forces officer. On Wednesday, June 23, she wrote in a message to the family of Farid Kermpour, the special forces officer killed during the nationwide protests for which Mohammad Qabadi was sentenced to "retribution": "I hope that in the name of your young martyr, you will have mercy on my sick son and, with your boundless compassion and forgiveness, grant a new life to my child." She stated that "we know that the martyrdom of your child is a grief that never ends," and asked the Kermpour family to forgive instead of taking revenge at a time when they can.