400 jailed over protests for Mahsa Amini

 

Iran's judiciary reported on Tuesday that 400 people have been given jail sentences of up to 10 years for their participation in protests started by Mahsa Amini's death.

Since Amini's death following her arrest for allegedly violating the nation's dress code for women, Iran has been rocked by protests that authorities refer to as "riots" and that have lasted for almost three months.

Ali Alghasi-Mehr, the head of Tehran's judiciary, said that during hearings on rioter cases in the province of Tehran, 160 people received sentences ranging from five to ten years in prison, 80 received sentences ranging from two to five years, and 160 received sentences of up to two years.

After putting to death two men in the past week in connection with the unrest, the regime has drawn strong international criticism.

On Monday and Thursday, respectively, Majidreza Rahnavard and Mohsen Shekari, both 23 years old, were executed by hanging for the Iranian legal offence of "moharebeh," or "enmity against God."

Prior to the two executions, Iran's judiciary claimed to have given death sentences to 11 people in connection with the protests; however, activists claim that another dozen or so are accused of crimes that could result in the death penalty being applied to them as well.

The possibility that Iranian footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani will receive a death sentence as a result of protests shocked and sickened the world union of professional footballers, FIFPRO.

According to Isfahan's judiciary chief Abdullah Jafari, Nasr-Azadani was detained in the city of Isfahan two days after allegedly taking part in an "armed riot" on September 16 that resulted in the deaths of three security agents.

The union tweeted on its page, "FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after advocating for women's rights and fundamental freedom in his nation.”

“We demand the immediate revocation of Amir's punishment and declare our solidarity with him,” it continued.

The treatment of seven detained French nationals and Iran's role in domestic protest crackdowns prompted France's foreign minister to threaten to summon Iran's charge d'affaires.

The UK recently announced new sanctions against senior Russian military commanders and Iranian nationals involved in the manufacture and supply of drones used to attack Ukraine.

Russian drones made in Iran and delivered there have "played a central role" in such attacks, according to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

In a desperate attempt to survive, the Tehran regime, which has recently been hit by a wave of civil unrest, is "striking sordid deals," according to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.