Iran On Sunday Handed Down Its First Death Sentence Linked To Participation In Riots

Iran on Sunday handed down its first death sentence linked to participation in "riots," amid nationwide protests since the death of Mahsa Amini, according to justice website Mizan Online. The “defendant” was sentenced to death in a Tehran court  for “setting fire to a government building, disturbing public order, gathering and conspiring to commit a crime against national security and an enemy of God and corruption on earth”. 

One of the most serious crimes under Iranian law, Mizan Online reported. Another Tehran court  sentenced five others to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years for "assembly and conspiracy to commit crimes against national security and disturbing public order." All those convicted can appeal their sentence, Mizan added. Dozens of people, mostly protesters but also security personnel, were killed during the protests, which  authorities described as a "riot".

Early Sunday, the judiciary said it had indicted more than 750 people in three provinces for involvement in such incidents. According to the court, more than 2,000 people have been charged since the demonstrations began in mid-September, almost half of them in the capital Tehran. Southern Hormozgan province's judiciary  chief  Mojtaba Ghahremani said 164 people had been charged "following the recent unrest," Mizan Online previously said. 

They face charges including, "incitement to kill," "damaging security forces," "anti-regime propaganda," and "damaging public property," the website said, adding that their trials "took place on Thursday in the presence of by their lawyers". Another 276 people were charged in the central province of Markazi. said his chief of justice Abdol-Mehdi Mousavi, quoted  by the state news agency IRNA.

However, 100 youths were released after they signed pledges not to take part in any future "riots," IRNA said. In the central province of Isfahan, judiciary chief Asadollah Jafari said 316 cases had been filed in connection with the recent unrest. He had already been brought to justice, the Tasnim news agency said on Saturday evening. Overseas groups say some 15,000 people were arrested in the riots that followed.

Iran on Sunday criticized a Friday meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and opponents of the Islamic Republic, calling Emmanuel Macron's comments after the meeting "regrettable and shameful". Macron met with four prominent Iranian dissidents, all  women.