The NGO Human Rights Watch said Monday that the execution of two protesters by Iranian authorities in connection with anti-government protests is «a grave miscarriage of justice and a dangerous escalation.»
«The trials of those facing capital charges related to the protests have been a total travesty of justice,» said Tara Sepehri Far, Iran researcher at HRW.
«Depriving those facing capital charges of access to a lawyer of their choice is a coordinated move to accelerate the Iranian authorities’ sham trial campaign aimed at sowing fear and projecting power,» Sepehri explained.
The organization has denounced that the charges against the protesters are «vaguely worded» offenses, which include national security charges such as enmity against god, corruption in the land or armed rebellion. In addition, court proceedings in which lawyers of the defendants’ choice are not allowed to participate «appear not to comply with international standards».
«Defendants are reportedly tortured into confessing, deprived of access to lawyers of their choice, and rushed through court proceedings that circumvent the safeguards of Iran’s own penal code and criminal procedure law,» the NGO added in its missive.
In addition, the revolutionary courts have issued at least 11 other death sentences and are expected to try dozens more people, including minors, on charges that can carry the death penalty, human rights groups denounce.
Human Rights Watch said it opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in all countries because it is «inherently cruel and irreversible». «The Iranian authorities should immediately halt these trials and overturn the death sentences,» reads the NGO’s statement.
For her part, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Diana Eltahawy, said that «Rahnavard’s horrific public execution exposes Iran’s judicial apparatus for what it is: a tool of repression that sends people to the gallows to spread fear and take revenge on protesters who dare to stand up to the ‘status quo’.»
«The arbitrary execution of Mayidreza Rahnavard less than two weeks after her only court hearing makes clear the extent of the Iranian authorities’ assault on the right to life and their disregard for even maintaining a façade of meaningful judicial proceedings,» he lamented.
He therefore called on the international community to «take all necessary measures to pressure the Iranian authorities to halt the executions and withdraw the death sentences,» while calling on states to make use of universal jurisdiction against those suspected of committing crimes under international law.
Amnesty denounced that the «unfair» trial against Rahnavard consisted of a hearing before a revolutionary court in the city of Mashhad, where he was charged with «enmity against God», which carries the death penalty, after allegedly stabbing to death two Basij force officers.
Prior to the hearing, Iranian state media published videos of the man giving his alleged confession for what happened, although the NGO has indicated that there are concerns about possible torture to obtain these statements which ultimately led to his conviction.
The NGO has highlighted that there are 20 people «at risk of execution» in connection with the protests, including eleven who have already been sentenced to death and three who have been tried and could have been or would have been sentenced, with no public information about their cases.
U.S. CONDEMNATION The condemnations have been joined by U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price, who said Rahnavard «is the latest victim of the Islamic Republic.» «He was swiftly executed after what can only be described as a sham trial. We understand that he was publicly executed, that he was publicly hanged,» he lamented, before stressing that this was «horrible news.»
«The regime has arrested thousands of people for their participation in these protests. Many now face harsh sentences, including the death penalty in sham trials that lack due process. We denounce in the strongest terms this draconian treatment,» he stressed during his daily press conference. «These harsh sentences and now the first public execution are aimed at intimidating the people of Iran and suppressing criticism,» he added.
Price stressed that these measures «highlight how much the Iranian leadership fears its own people» and argued that «as the Iranian leadership continues its violent campaign against peaceful protesters, it should know that the United States is watching, that the world is watching, and that coordination with allies and partners around the world will be maintained to address Iran’s human rights abuses.»
Iranian media reported Monday that authorities had publicly executed Rahnavard, 23, for the alleged murder of two policemen. The defendant has been executed 13 days after the trial began, which is why HRW criticizes that «it is unclear how the appeals process progressed at such a pace.»
In addition, last week the media announced the first execution of a participant in the protests in Iran, Mohsen Shekari, 23, investigated for injuring a police officer and blocking a road.
Authorities have issued at least 1,680 indictments nationwide in connection with the protests, according to official statements, while human rights groups estimate that more than 18,000 people have been arrested in connection with the social demonstrations.
Iran is one of the countries that uses capital punishment most frequently, with human rights organizations estimating that more than 300 citizens were executed between March 21 and September 12, according to HRW.
