The Primary Court Issued a Murder Conviction for the Accused in the Killing of Mehran Samak

The lawyer for the family of Mehran Samak, the deceased protester, states that the military court has issued a murder conviction for the commander of the police force in Bandar Anzali, the accused in the case. Mehran Samak, a 27-year-old protester residing in Anzali, was shot in the head and killed on the evening of December 8 last year while honking and celebrating after the Iranian national football team's loss to the United States. Following this incident, Jafar Javanmardi, the commander of the police force in Bandar Anzali, was dismissed from his position and arrested on charges of shooting the bullet that led to Mehran Samak's death. Majid Ahmadi, the lawyer for Mehran Samak's family, stated on Tuesday, June 6, in an interview with the newspaper Shargh, that the accused, Jafar Javanmardi, remains in custody, and the defendant's lawyers have appealed this ruling, sending the case to the Supreme Court. He had previously mentioned the accusation against the police commander as 'failure to comply with the law on the use of firearms leading to intentional murder.' The murder of Mehran Samak has faced significant criticism, including from a senior American senator. Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator in the U.S. Senate, described the killing of Mehran Samak as 'horrific' and 'cruel.' This is the first case to examine the charge of murder against a protester following the protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police. However, judicial authorities have remained silent and refrained from providing information on the matter. During last year's nationwide protests, at least 500 people were killed, and hundreds more were injured. Dozens of protesters also suffered eye injuries, losing vision in one or both eyes. While seven protesters have been executed on charges including 'murder' or 'waging war against God,' none of those responsible for killing or injuring protesters have been prosecuted.