Iran Hangs Protester In Public, Second Known Execution Linked To Anti-Government Protests

Iran, on Monday, hanged a man in public; its second known execution of a protester convicted in the recent nationwide anti-government unrest after the death of Mahsa Amini in September.

What Happened: A man identified as Majid Reza Rahnavard was convicted of killing two members of security forces amid the ongoing protests in the country, the judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported. 

“Majid Reza Rahnavard was hanged in public in (the holy Shi’ite city of) Mashahd this morning … he was sentenced to death for ‘waging war against God’ after stabbing to death two members of security forces,” Mizan reported.

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The semi-official news agency, Fars, also said Rahnavard killed two members of the Basij volunteer force – the country's Revolutionary Guards that have been at the forefront of the state crackdown on protests – and wounded four others. 

In mid-September, thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest after the death of Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, in police custody. Amini was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab "improperly."

Last week, Iran carried out the first-known execution of a protester after the court found him guilty of "enmity against God." He was accused of being a "rioter" who blocked a road in Tehran on Sept. 25 and injured a member of the paramilitary Basij force with a knife. 

Iran has reportedly sought death penalty for at least 21 people involved in the protests, and many Human rights groups have come down heavily on Tehran for its “unfair process.”

International non-governmental organization Amnesty International called the process of convicting “rioters” a “sham trial designed to intimidate those participating in the popular uprising that has rocked Iran.”

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