Mojahed Kourkouri, sentenced to death for alleged involvement in violent protests, has been executed in Iran. His execution, part of a troubling pattern of state-enforced retribution against dissenters, underscores ongoing human rights violations linked to the 2022 anti-government protests, which erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Human rights groups express outrage, citing Kourkouri's trial as unjust and marred by torture.
Iran Executes Man Linked to 2022 Anti-Government Protests Amidst Human Rights Concerns
Iran Executes Man Linked to 2022 Anti-Government Protests Amidst Human Rights Concerns
Mojahed Kourkouri's execution raises alarms over fairness of judicial proceedings and treatment of dissenters in Iran.
In a development that has stirred international uproar, Iran has executed Mojahed Kourkouri, three years after his arrest during major anti-government protests in 2022. The Iranian judiciary reported that Kourkouri, also known as Abbas Kourkouri, was sentenced to death for alleged involvement in armed attacks and for being part of a "rebellion group", as stated by the Mizan news agency.
Kourkouri was convicted for purportedly killing seven individuals, which included a nine-year-old boy named Kian Pirfalak during demonstrations in Izeh. While authorities claimed Kian was a casualty of a rioter, his family insists that he was shot by security forces. According to Amnesty International, Kourkouri faced severe torture during his confinement, and his trial lacked fairness, featuring coerced confessions broadcasted on state media.
This execution marks the 11th known case of capital punishment related to the protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death after her apprehension by morality police in 2022 for supposedly not wearing her hijab correctly. The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and the arrest of thousands as security forces labeled the movements as "riots".
Kourkouri's conviction followed accusations of firing at a vehicle carrying Kian and his family. Human rights advocates reported that he was wounded during an armed raid in which he was captured. Many, including Kian's family, question the validity of the charges against him, with Kian’s mother adamantly stating the child was killed by plainclothes officers.
In wake of Kourkouri’s execution, human rights organizations have voiced their condemnation. Amnesty International asserted that Kourkouri's trial was flawed due to his lack of access to a lawyer of his choice and that he endured torture to secure false confessions. Following his 2023 sentencing, a judicial review was initiated, but the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, leading to the execution later this year.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Iran Human Rights group based in Oslo, condemned the execution and urged global accountability for Iran's leadership, calling for international community action against the ongoing wave of executions.
Data provided by the Kurdish human rights group Hengaw indicates that at least 582 individuals, among them numerous political prisoners, have been executed in Iran just this year. Kourkouri’s case shines a sobering light on the state’s brutal crackdown on dissent as it seeks to silence voices of opposition during these turbulent times.
Kourkouri was convicted for purportedly killing seven individuals, which included a nine-year-old boy named Kian Pirfalak during demonstrations in Izeh. While authorities claimed Kian was a casualty of a rioter, his family insists that he was shot by security forces. According to Amnesty International, Kourkouri faced severe torture during his confinement, and his trial lacked fairness, featuring coerced confessions broadcasted on state media.
This execution marks the 11th known case of capital punishment related to the protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death after her apprehension by morality police in 2022 for supposedly not wearing her hijab correctly. The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and the arrest of thousands as security forces labeled the movements as "riots".
Kourkouri's conviction followed accusations of firing at a vehicle carrying Kian and his family. Human rights advocates reported that he was wounded during an armed raid in which he was captured. Many, including Kian's family, question the validity of the charges against him, with Kian’s mother adamantly stating the child was killed by plainclothes officers.
In wake of Kourkouri’s execution, human rights organizations have voiced their condemnation. Amnesty International asserted that Kourkouri's trial was flawed due to his lack of access to a lawyer of his choice and that he endured torture to secure false confessions. Following his 2023 sentencing, a judicial review was initiated, but the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, leading to the execution later this year.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Iran Human Rights group based in Oslo, condemned the execution and urged global accountability for Iran's leadership, calling for international community action against the ongoing wave of executions.
Data provided by the Kurdish human rights group Hengaw indicates that at least 582 individuals, among them numerous political prisoners, have been executed in Iran just this year. Kourkouri’s case shines a sobering light on the state’s brutal crackdown on dissent as it seeks to silence voices of opposition during these turbulent times.
