Iran has sentenced to death three people accused of killing three members of the security forces during the protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, the judiciary said Monday.
The Islamic republic has been rocked by civil unrest since the September 16 death of Kurdish Iranian Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.
The latest sentences, which can still be appealed, bring to 17 the total number of people condemned to death in connection with the more than three months of protests.
Four of those convicted have been executed and two others are on death row after their sentences were upheld by the country’s supreme court.
Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were sentenced to death on charges of “moharebeh” – or waging “war against God” – the judiciary’s Mizan Online news website reported.
Two others were handed prison terms for the incident that led to the deaths of three security force members in the central province of Isfahan on November 16, Mizan said.
All the sentences can be appealed before the supreme court, it added.
On Saturday, Iran executed Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini for killing a paramilitary force member in November in Karaj west of Tehran.
Two other men, Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, were put to death in December after being convicted of separate attacks on security forces.
The executions have sparked global outrage and new Western sanctions against Tehran.
Meanwhile, dozens of Iranians gathered early on Monday outside a prison near the capital Tehran where authorities are reportedly preparing to execute two protesters, videos posted on social media showed.
Human rights defenders had warned on social media that authorities planned to execute Mohammad Ghobadlou and Mohammad Boroughani early on Monday, promoting the protest outside Rajaei Shahr prison in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, where the two men are being held.
Ghobadlou, 22, and Boroughani, 19, were convicted of attacking members of the security forces in trials that human rights groups have described as “sham.”
The pair’s death sentences were recently upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, the final step before authorities carry out the sentence.
Videos shared on Twitter by the activist group 1500tasvir showed the crowd outside the prison embracing Ghobadlou’s mother, who was present at the scene along with Ghobadlou’s father.
The crowd also chanted anti-regime slogans and urged other Iranians to join the protest. Sound of gunfire could be heard in other videos shared on Twitter.
Iran executed two more protesters on Saturday, bringing the total number of executions related to the demonstrations sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September to four.
These executions have drawn condemnation from Western powers, but have not deterred the Islamic Republic from executing more protesters.
Activists have called on Western governments to increase the political cost of executions for the regime by taking action such as expelling Iranian diplomats in the West and recalling their own ambassadors from Iran.
Since Amini’s death, protesters across Iran have been demanding the overthrow of the regime, creating one of the most significant challenges to the Islamic Republic since it was founded in 1979.
The regime views the protests as “riots” that are backed by foreign powers.
At least 476 people, including 64 children and 34 women, have been killed by security forces during the protests, according to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR).
