Tehran Judiciary Chief: Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Mohammad Reza Talash

Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the Chief Justice of Tehran Province, stated on Tuesday, April 23, that the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic has confirmed the death sentence for Mohammad Reza Talash. Talash is accused of running over three police officers during a clash between Gonabadi dervishes and security forces on Pasdaran Street in Tehran. According to the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, Esmaeili said: "Based on the ruling issued by Branch 9 of the Tehran Criminal Court, Mr. Mohammad Reza Talash was sentenced to three instances of qisas (retribution), one year in prison, and 74 lashes for the murder of three police officers and disturbing public order and security. Following an appeal by the defendant, the case was reviewed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court." The Chief Justice of Tehran Province noted that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court upheld the ruling from the Tehran Criminal Court. He added that Talash's case has been sent to the Tehran Prosecutor's Office for the necessary procedures to carry out the sentence. The lower court had sentenced Talash to three instances of qisas and imprisonment at the end of the last Iranian year. In a video that circulated on social media during the night of the clash between the dervishes and police and Basij forces, a white bus zigzagged into the police forces. Talash, denying the charges against him, stated in one of his court sessions that "I have 17 broken places on my head. They (the officers) first hit me several times, which made me angry." In his final defense, he mentioned that he was afraid the officers would get back on the bus and "assault" him. Talash reported his "visual impairment" and stated that "I cannot even recognize two meters," denying any intention to drive towards the police forces. He expressed sorrow over the deaths of the three police officers due to the collision with the bus he was driving, saying: "I love execution. I’m not saying this so they won’t execute me; I love execution. I drove the car and wanted to pass the incident. I did not intentionally run over them; my conscience is clear." During the protests by Gonabadi dervishes on February 19 last year on Pasdaran Street in Tehran, dozens of dervish supporters were injured in clashes with security forces. On that day, according to security officials, two Basij members were also killed, and 30 police officers were injured. According to some reports, at least 300 Gonabadi dervish supporters were arrested during these protests and scattered clashes, with some still in prison. Meanwhile, reports indicate the death of Mohammad Raji, a detained Gonabadi dervish, in police custody; a news confirmed by his family. Additionally, Amnesty International stated that eight imprisoned Gonabadi dervishes have gone on hunger strike since April 7 in protest against what they called "torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment." On April 9, Amnesty International also expressed concern for at least 11 female dervishes being held in Qarchak prison and called for their immediate release. Typically, officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran deny any mistreatment of prisoners, a claim rejected by human rights organizations.