The Iranian government has sparked outrage internationally with its decision to execute a karate champion and a volunteer children’s coach in connection with nationwide protests. These executions come amid a crackdown on protests in the country, which have been ongoing since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16. The total number of people now known to have been executed in connection with the protests has reached four.
Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini were reportedly hanged early Saturday morning. According to Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan, the two men, who are said to have participated in anti-regime protests last year, were convicted of killing Seyed Ruhollah Ajamian, a member of the country’s Basij paramilitary force, in Karaj on November 3.
Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, a lawyer representing Karami, posted on Twitter on Saturday that Karami was not allowed to speak to his family before his execution. Aghasi also stated that Karami had started a hunger strike involving only dry foods on Wednesday in protest against officials who did not allow Aghasi to represent him. In recent months, as many as 41 other protesters have been given death sentences, according to statements from Iranian officials and reports in Iranian media reviewed by CNN and 1500Tasvir, but the actual number could be higher.
5
4.5