The Death Sentence of Mohammad Qabadi, Imprisoned Protester, Confirmed by the Supreme Court

The lawyer of Mohammad Qabadi, an imprisoned protester, announced the confirmation of his death sentence by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. Amir Reisiann stated on Tuesday, May 23, in an interview with the Shargh network that the Supreme Court rejected the request for retrial and upheld the death sentence issued by the criminal court. He noted that the mental health of Mohammad Qabadi and surveillance camera footage were not considered at any stage of the proceedings. The mother of this young protester claims that the killing of Farid Kermpour, a police officer, is unrelated to her son's case and that the officer's death occurred elsewhere. Mohammad Qabadi, who suffers from bipolar disorder, has been accused of killing police officer Farid Kermpour by running him over with a car. Amir Reisiann has called for the family of Farid Kermpour to forgive and for Mohammad Qabadi to be spared from execution. This 22-year-old protester was arrested during nationwide protests and has been sentenced to death in two separate cases for murder and moharebeh (waging war against God). Amnesty International stated last February that the death sentences against Mohammad Qabadi represent his 'arbitrary deprivation of the right to life' and that his lack of access to necessary medications for bipolar disorder has exacerbated his vulnerability during interrogation and trial. Despite protests against the execution of accused protesters in the 'Isfahan House' case in several cities in Iran and around the world, Iranian officials continue to carry out death sentences against protesters. According to the human rights website 'Hrana,' at least 114 people were executed in Iran in May of this year. Political prisoners in Evin's women's ward oppose executions, stating that 'overthrow is closer to the Islamic Republic than the jugular vein.' The human rights situation in May, according to a human rights organization, shows 'increased crackdowns' and 'widespread violations of freedoms.' The lawyer of the accused reported the violation of the three-time death sentence of 'Javad Rouhi.' The mother of Mahsa Amini reacted to the breaking of her daughter's grave glass: 'Zhina is the love of the entire Iranian nation.' Six political prisoners stated that the intensification of violence, especially executions, will lead society towards more violence. A statement from 174 civil activists described executions as 'organized state murder.'