Second known protest-related execution carried out in Iran

By Teele Rebane and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN

Iran has executed a second man allegedly involved in the nationwide anti-government protest movement after he was convicted of fatally stabbing two security officials last month, Mizan Online, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, and the semi-official Tasmin news agency reported on Monday.

Mizan Online named the man as Majidreza Rahnavard. He was convicted of “waging war against God” for reportedly killing two members of the Basij paramilitary force, and injuring four others on November 17, the outlet said. The charge of “waging war against God” carries the death penalty under the theocracy of the Islamic Republic since 1979.

Rahnavard was hanged in a public execution in the northeastern city of Mashhad early Monday morning, it said.

He is the second known person to be executed in connection to the 2022 protests. His death comes less than a week after Mohsen Shekari — the first known protester to be executed — who was hanged last Thursday.

Several more Iranians have been sentenced to death by execution during the nationwide protests, which were sparked by the case of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being apprehended by the state’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.

Public anger over Amini’s death has combined with a range of grievances against the Islamic Republic’s oppressive regime to fuel the demonstrations even in the face of harsh punishments, and possibly the death sentence.

CNN cannot independently verify the number of people facing executions in Iran, or the latest arrest figures or death tolls related to the protests — precise numbers are impossible for anyone outside the Iranian government to confirm.

Last week, Amnesty International said it had identified at least 17 others, in addition to Rahnavard and Shekari, who are at risk of execution in connection to the recent protests.

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