“Mothers Of Khavaran” Urge Iranian Regime To Stop Executions Of Protestors

An Iranian group that represents the relatives of people summarily executed by the Islamic Republic in the 1980s are demanding an immediate halt to death sentences, the unconditional release of all political prisoners.

Mothers of Khavaran made the call in a statement on December 9, according to the activist HRANA news agency, a day after the Iranian authorities carried out the first known execution connected to the anti-government protests that have swept the country for more than 12 weeks.

Mohsen Shekari was executed by hanging for allegedly stabbing a member of the paramilitary Basij force at a September demonstration in Tehran, state media reported, triggering international condemnation.

"Mohsen's execution is a continuation of the repressive and anti-freedom attitude that the Islamic Republic has had toward protesters and opponents since the beginning of its rule” in 1979, Mothers of Khavaran said.

"Over the last 44 years, the killing of protesters and political opponents, such as the serial killing of intellectuals in the 1990s, the repression of university students in 1999, the massacre of protesters in 2009, 2018 and 2019, have continued,” it said, adding, “Today, thousands of protesters have been arrested and imprisoned, and hastily staged courts are now issuing and executing death sentences".

The Iranian security forces' brutal crackdown on the protest movement has killed more than 440 people, including dozens of children, according to human rights groups. At least 18,000 people have reportedly been arrested.

Activists say at least 11 people so far have been handed capital punishment over their involvement in the demonstrations triggered by the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police.

Iran is one of the world’s top executioners.