Iran Carries Out First Execution On Convicted Male Protester Over Anti-Government Unrest

Iran has carried out its first execution of a protester after a man was found guilty of enmity against God.

Hanged on Thursday, Dec. 8, was Mohsen Shekari. This was after he was found guilty by a Revolutionary Court of “moharebeh” according to state media.

Shekari was accused of being a rioter who had blocked the main road in Tehran back in September. He was also accused of wounding a member of the paramilitary force with a machete.

Also, an unnamed activist claims that Shekari was convicted after a “show trial without any due process.”

"The international community must immediately and strongly react to this execution," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, said.

"If Mohsen Shekari's execution is not met with serious consequences for the government, we will face mass execution of protesters," he added.

After being accused of blocking and attacking a volunteer paramilitary force, Shekari was found guilty of fighting and drawing a weapon "with the intention of killing, causing terror and disturbing the order and security of society" and convicted of "enmity against God," the Mizan news agency reported.

An appeal was made against the verdict but this was upheld by the supreme court on November 20.

According to Iran Human Rights, Shekari was denied access to a lawyer throughout the interrogation phase and legal proceedings. Further, it was added by Fars news had aired forced confessions hours before Shekari was executed. In the video, a bruise on his right cheek of Shekari could also be seen.

Aside from Shekari, the judiciary revealed that there are still 10 other people who have been sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts on the same charges that Shekari was facing or "corruption on Earth" in connection with the protests.

The identities of the others on death row have not been released as of this writing.

According to Amnesty International, the death sentences were designed to "further repress the popular uprising" and "instil fear among the public."