Two Executed in Khomein on Charges of 'Moharebeh'

As reports emerge of an increase in executions in Iran over the past month, the death sentences of two individuals accused of 'moharebeh and corruption on earth' were carried out in Khomein, located in Markazi Province. According to ISNA on October 1, citing the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, these two individuals were hanged early Tuesday for 'armed robbery and killing Lieutenant Mortaza Barati.' Ibrahim Ghamizi, the prosecutor of Khomein, detailed that on December 15, 2020, they engaged in a confrontation with police officers and 'during the chase, the robbers shot at the police officers in Hijab Square in Khomein,' resulting in the death of Lieutenant Mortaza Barati. He stated that these two had a history of several other thefts and were sentenced to death for participating in moharebeh through 'shooting and endangering the security of roads.' The death sentences of these two, whose identities were not disclosed by the judiciary, were 'confirmed and upheld' by the Supreme Court. Moharebeh means 'using weapons with the intent to harm, steal, or intimidate people,' which can lead to a death sentence in court. Recently, 'at least 21 people' were executed in Adelabad prison in Shiraz. This news comes as human rights media report an increase in executions in recent weeks in Iran. Among them, the Iran Human Rights Organization, based in Norway, reported at least 19 executions in Adelabad prison in recent days, and Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the head of this organization, expressed concern over the rise in executions in this prison. Mr. Amiri-Moghaddam told the Afghanistan section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that over thirty Afghans have been executed in Iran this solar year, which he described as 'a significant increase compared to previous years.' The increase in executions in Iran occurs as a number of political prisoners have been campaigning against the death penalty for months, trying to draw global attention to executions in Iran from within prison.