TEHRAN: An Iranian court on Friday ordered the execution of a man accused of killing seven people during nationwide protests last year, the judiciary said in a statement.
According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online news website, Abbas Kurkuri was accused of using a military weapon to lethally shoot seven people in Izeh, Khuzestan province, in November 2022, and charged with the capital crimes of “moharebeh”, or “war against God” and “corruption on earth.”
Iran witnessed several months of civil unrest following the 16 September death of a Kurdish Iranian woman Mehsa Amini, 22, after her arrest for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
Hundreds of Iranians were killed, including dozens of security personnel, and thousands were sent behind bars in connection with what officials labelled “riots” fomented the Islamic Republic’s enemies.
Mizan added that Kurkuri’s sentence could be appealed in the apex court.
At the burial of one of the firing victims, ten-year-old Kian Pirfalak, the boy’s mother, reportedly accused security forces of killing her son.
At the time of his death, authorities insisted the boy was murdered in a “terrorist” attack carried out by an extremist outfit.
Judiciary claims accused accepts killing seven
The judiciary’s website said that Kurkuri had “accepted the charges” and confessed that he came under the influence of social media.
Rights groups outside of Iran frequently condemn confessions as “forced”. The groups argue that they are often obtained under pressure.
Iranian authorities have executed four people and issued death sentences for around twenty others in connection to the mostly women-led protest movement.
