Iran sentences three more protesters to death

In the midst of worldwide outrage over the public upheaval sparked by Mahsa Amini’s killing, Iran’s judiciary handed down three additional death sentences on Monday.

According to the judiciary’s online website, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi were condemned to death for’moharebeh’ (waging ‘war against God’) under Iran’s Islamic sharia law. They can, however, appeal the ruling. Two others were sentenced to prison for the November 16 incident that resulted in the deaths of three members of the security forces in the central province of Isfahan.

The newest sentencing, for three individuals convicted of killing three members of the security forces, raise the total number of inmates sentenced to death in connection with almost four months of protests to 17.

Four people have been executed, while six others have had their cases retried.

According to the Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 109 protestors currently detained have been condemned to death or face accusations that carry the death penalty.

Since the death in detention of Kurdish Iranian Amini, 22, on September 16, following her arrest for allegedly breaching Iran’s severe dress code for women, Iran has been shaken by a wave of demonstrations.

IHR said Monday that 481 demonstrators, including 64 juveniles, had been murdered since the uprising began.

Iran has blamed the turmoil on hostile foreign powers, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declaring that authorities were dealing with individuals involved in the rioting “seriously and justly.”