By QueenEsther Iroanusi
An Iranian court has issued the first death sentence to a person involved in the recent widespread protests which have engulfed the Middle-Eastern state.
Experts fear that this sentence, issued to an unnamed protester, will open the floodgates for the state to condemn many more of the 15,000 arrested protesters to death.
Iran’s Revolutionary Court issued the sentence for “setting fire to a government centre,
disturbing public order and collusion for committing crimes against national security.”
The protester was also sentenced for “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and “corruption on Earth”.
Five more protesters were handed between five and 10 years in prison on national security-related charges.
The death sentence comes after weeks of nationwide demonstrations – sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini – a 22-year-old woman who was arrested in Tehran by morality police for allegedly breaking strict dress codes. She died in police custody.
At least 326 protesters, including 43 children and 25 women, have been killed as the nation’s security forces violently attempt to quash the unrest.
As authorities struggle to deal with the nationwide protests, which French President Emmanuel Macron has described as a “revolution”, lawmakers have called for tougher punishments.
Last week, Iranian members of parliament voted overwhelmingly to introduce the death sentence to those found guilty of committing serious crimes against the state.
International onlookers fear this could lead to mass executions of protesters.
Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights has said that at least 20 people currently face charges punishable by death.
Pictured above: Over 15,000 people have been arrested since protests in Iran began in September
Source: @QasimRashid
