On Thursday, December 8, state media claimed that Iran has carried out its first known execution tied to protests that have taken place in the country since September. The individual was sentenced to death for hurting a member of the country's paramilitary forces.
The identity of the demonstrator has been revealed to be Mohsen Shekari by both the semi-official Tasmin news agency and the online outlet Mizan Online, which is connected to Iran's judicial system.
It has been claimed that he was found guilty of "waging war against God" for stabbing a member of the Basij paramilitary group on September 23 during a demonstration in Tehran.
According to the information provided by Mizan Online, Shekari was given a death sentence on October 23 and was put to death by hanging on the morning of December 8. It was the first time that an execution connected to the protests was reported publicly by state media.
Iran Human Rights, a non-profit group that advocates for human rights, has demanded a robust reaction from the world community in response to the execution.
"His execution must be met with the harshest words conceivable and reactions from all around the world. The director of the organization, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said that if the current situation continues, "we would be facing daily executions of protestors who are fighting for their fundamental human rights."
Amiry-Moghaddam said that Shekari was put to death by the Revolutionary Court in a "show trial" without being afforded the right to due process or the opportunity to consult with a lawyer of his choosing.
During the nationwide protests in Iran, which were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was apprehended by the state's morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly, several Iranians have been sentenced to death by execution. Some of these individuals have already been put to death.
Her passing touched a nerve in the Islamic Republic, and significant public figures, such as the top Iranian performer Taraneh Alidoosti, have come out in support of the cause since her passing. Since then, the protests have converged around a wide variety of complaints with the autocratic regime.
As of the month of November, Amnesty International reports that the Iranian authorities are seeking the execution of at least 21 persons in connection with the protests.
According to a report that was released on Wednesday by Iran Human Rights, which is located in Norway, at least 458 people have been murdered in the unrest since September.