On Tuesday, Iran executed Mohammad Ghobadlou, a protestor with a long-term psychosocial disability, in connection with the alleged murder of a police officer during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s news agency, reported the execution.
The Criminal Court of Tehran Province sanctioned the execution after the Supreme Court of Iran confirmed Ghobadlou’s death sentence. Ghobadlou was accused of participating in the killing of police officer Farid Karampour and injuring five other officers during the protests.
According to a report, Alireza Varnaseri, the representative of Masjed Soleiman in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, expressed support for Ghobadlou’s execution. He applauded the judiciary’s independence, especially in cases involving national security.
In contrast, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) denounced the execution. UN experts voiced concerns over reports of an unjust trial and a lack of due process. They urged Iran to adhere to international human rights law and raised serious concerns about credible reports that those executed are denied legal representation during detention and trial.
It is crucial to note that Mohammad Ghobadlou’s execution is part of a broader context. The protests were sparked by the arrest and subsequent death in custody of a woman, Mahsa Amini, on charges of wearing an improper hijab. Earlier in December, Iran executed four individuals, and the UN has criticized these executions, including that of a 17-year-old, Hamidreza Azari.
Often facing international reprobation for its high execution rates, Iran remains a leading country in executions due to its legal system and the Islamic Penal Code, which includes capital punishment. According to Iran Human Rights, there have been 52 executions in 2024 alone. There are continuing calls, notably by human rights organizations, for Iran to align its practices with international standards and abolish the death penalty.
Read more about this in the JURIST report.