Protest Held in Support of Mojahid Korkor and Reza Rasayi Outside the Islamic Republic Embassy in Berlin

In conjunction with the confirmation of the death sentences for Mojahid Korkor and Reza Rasayi, two political prisoners arrested during last year's nationwide protests, a number of Iranians opposing the Islamic Republic held a protest in Berlin on Thursday, January 7, expressing support for these two condemned prisoners and protesting against the wave of death sentences issued by the Iranian government. The protesters chanted slogans against Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, while holding images of the two prisoners. The death sentence for Mojahid Korkor, issued by the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz in April of this year, was confirmed on Sunday, December 3, by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court and officially communicated to his family. Mojahid Korkor is a citizen from Izeh, accused by Iranian officials of being involved in the shooting of Izeh citizens on November 16, 2022, during the nationwide protests; a claim that has been repeatedly denied by the families of the victims of that incident, including the family of Kian Pirfalak. While the judicial system, officials, and state media of the Islamic Republic have attempted to attribute the murder of Kian Pirfalak, a 9-year-old child, to Mojahid Korkor over the past year, Mahmonir Molaei Rad, Kian's mother, stated at her son's funeral that it was 'government agents' who shot at their vehicle while they were passing through the street, causing Kian's death and severe injuries to his father. She later emphasized: 'I, Kian's mother, will never accept anyone from my fellow citizens being introduced as the murderer.' The Iranian judicial system attributed the deaths of seven citizens from Izeh on November 16, 2022, to citizens including Mojahid (Abbas) Korkor, Bahman Bahmani, Hossein Saidi, and Mahmoud Ahmad. In December 2022, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Izeh announced that legal cases had been opened for 70 protesting citizens related to the public gatherings in this city. Another detainee whose death sentence has recently been confirmed is Reza (Gholam-Reza) Rasayi, a protester following the 'Ahl-e Haq' (Yarsan) faith in the city of Sahneh in Kermanshah province. After participating in the protests in November 2022 in this city, he was sentenced to 'Qisas' (retribution) for the murder of a police officer. Following reports of the confirmation of Reza Rasayi's death sentence, a source close to the family of this protester told VOA that Branch 17 of the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, presided over by 'Judge Barani', confirmed Rasayi's 'Qisas' sentence. In this context, the Iran Human Rights Organization warned on Wednesday, January 6, about the 'significant increase in executions in Iran' and called on the international community to 'do everything in their power to stop the executions of protesters, including Reza Rasayi and Mojahid Korkor.' In a statement published on its website, it noted that 'at least seven protesters have been executed in Iran this year' and emphasized that in addition to Mojahid Korkor and Reza Rasayi, three other protesters are also at risk of execution. According to this statement, Mahmoud Amiri-Moghadam, the director of this human rights organization, stated: 'The death sentences of Reza Rasayi and Mojahid Korkor, like those of other protesters, are based on confessions obtained under torture and without a fair trial, and have no legal legitimacy. These sentences have been issued to intimidate the people, and only raising the political cost through civil campaigns and pressure from the international community can prevent their implementation.' Reza (Gholam-Reza) Rasayi, a protester following the 'Ahl-e Haq' (Yarsan) faith in the city of Sahneh in Kermanshah province, faced charges of murdering a police officer after participating in the protests in November 2022 and was sentenced to 'Qisas'. Also, see: Confirmation of Reza Rasayi's death sentence; source close to the family: do not let an innocent person be hanged. Additionally, Abbas Korkori's sister, known as 'Mojahid Korkor', announced on Sunday, December 3, the confirmation of her brother's death sentence by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, stating that this sentence was sent from the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz to Izeh. Negar Korkor confirmed in a video message that the death sentence for Mojahid Korkor, which was issued in Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, was confirmed in Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Also, see: The death sentence for Mojahid Korkor, a protester from Izeh, confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. Moein Khazaeli, a lawyer, previously emphasized the flaws and contradictions in the death sentences for Mojahid Korkor and Reza Rasayi in an interview with VOA's Persian section. The Iran Human Rights Organization also emphasized that 'Mohammad Qabadelu, Manocher Mehman-Naz and Mansour Dahmarde, all of whom were protesters during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' uprising, have received death sentences and are at risk of execution.'