Dozens of protesters in Iran face the death penalty

Paris. At least 100 Iranians detained in protests in their country face charges that carry the death penalty, said Iran Human Rights (IHR), an Oslo-based NGO.

Iran is the scene of multiple protests sparked by the death, on September 16, of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, who died after being detained by the morality police for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

In an escalation of the authorities’ repression, which militants say is intended to sow fear among the population, two men were executed this month in connection with these demonstrations.

In a report released Tuesday, IHR identified 100 inmates facing death row, 13 of whom already have. He also noted that many of them had limited access to a lawyer.

IHR indicated that 476 protesters had been killed since mid-September.

At least 14,000 people have been detained since the start of protests in Iran, the UN said in November.

Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, was publicly hanged on December 12 after being convicted by a court in Machhad (northeast) for having killed two members of the security forces. Four days earlier, Mohsen Shekari, also 23, was executed for wounding a member of the security forces.

The judiciary reported that nine other people had been sentenced to death in connection with the demonstrations, two of whom had been allowed a new trial.