Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentences for Eight Defendants in Attack on Parliament and Khomeini's Tomb

Simultaneously with the announcement by the Ministry of Intelligence regarding the arrest of 27 members of a 'terrorist group', the head of Tehran's Revolutionary Courts announced that the Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentences for eight defendants involved in the attack on the Parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini. According to Tasnim News Agency, on Tuesday, June 11, Mousa Ghazanfari Abadi stated that these individuals were sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court for 'aiding in rebellion (armed insurrection against the Islamic ruler)'. He also mentioned that the sentences are 'final and will be executed soon'. This report indicates that the case involves 26 defendants, with trials for the remaining 18 defendants scheduled to take place in the coming months. The judiciary-affiliated news agency, Mizan, previously reported that all defendants present in this court were arrested between June 7 and June 24, 2017. In the attack on the Iranian Parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini on June 7, 2017, five of the assailants were killed, and the Ministry of Intelligence announced their names as Ramin, Qayoom, Fereydoun, Abu Jihad, and Saryas without mentioning their last names. Iranian security sources also reported the arrest of an Iranian woman who allegedly played a 'guiding' role for the perpetrators of the attack on Khomeini's tomb. However, security officials have not commented on the name and status of this individual. Following the attack, Iranian security and judicial officials announced the arrest of dozens of individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State group in various regions of Iran. In recent years, the Ministry of Intelligence has reported the arrest of several groups allegedly 'affiliated' with ISIS without providing details. On Tuesday, this ministry also announced the arrest of 27 members of a 'terrorist network' that intended to carry out 'terrorist operations in Tehran and several major cities during the Nights of Qadr and Quds Day'. According to the announcement, these individuals had also 'threatened the Iranian people with revenge and murder by posting images on social media'. The ministry reported the seizure of 'large quantities of weapons and ammunition, including several Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, grenades, bombs, and equipment for making explosive materials' from the defendants. The Ministry of Intelligence did not provide details about the identities of these individuals.