Iran hangs 23-year-old protester with mental healthcondition. On Tuesday, the Iranian judiciary's newsagency reported that he was executed because he participated in mass demonstrations that rocked the country in 2022. The execution was carried out in connection to the death of a local official during the widespread protests that shook the country. “„The death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadlou for the crime of intentional murder of Farid Karampour Hassanvand was executed this morning after 487 days of judicial review of the case.- Mizan news agency
According to Amnesty International, Iranian authorities accuse Ghobadlou of running over a local official during a protest in Robat Karim, Tehran province, in September 2022. The United States has previously sanctioned Abolqasem Salavati, the judge who handed down his death sentence, for imposing harsh sentences on political prisoners, journalists, and activists.
According to Amnesty, Ghobadlou was facing two death sentences: one for "corruption on Earth" from a Revolutionary Court, which the Supreme Court upheld, and another for murder from a criminal court in Tehran province. The death sentence related to "corruption on Earth" was temporarily suspended earlier this month pending an investigation into the intentional murder charge.
Amir Raesian, Ghobadlou's lawyer, stated that he was not informed of any ruling regarding his client and urged Mizan, the Iranian judiciary's news agency, to provide more details on the execution.
"If Mizan news agency is telling the truth, it should announce the number and date of issuance of this verdict," Raesian said in a statement on X.
Amnesty International has condemned the death sentences, characterizing the trials as "grossly unfair sham trials" marked by coerced "confessions" tainted by torture and a failure to mandate comprehensive mental healthassessments for Ghobadlou, despite his documented mental disability. According to Amnesty, Ghobadlou had been under the care of a psychiatric hospital for bipolar disorder since the age of 15. The rights group emphasizes that international law and standards explicitly prohibit the imposition of the death penalty on individuals with mental disabilities.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norwegian-based organization, denounced Ghobadlou's execution as an "extrajudicial killing."
“„The Islamic Republic’s leader Ali Khamenei and his Judiciary must be held accountable for this crime. This execution must be met with strong international condemnations!- Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam on X (formerly Twitter)
Nationwide demonstrations erupted in September 2022 following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police, allegedly due to the improper wearing of her headscarf. In connection with these protests, at least eight protesters have been executed.
The Iranian authorities responded to the widespread protests with harsh measures, including brute force, mass arrests, and expedited sham trials, prompting strong global condemnation and sanctions from the United States. The unrest resulted in over 300 reported deaths, including more than 40 children, according to the United Nations.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) claimed a higher toll, estimating over 500 deaths, including 70 children. The UN, citing its Human Rights Committee's research, reported thousands of arrests across the country during the months-long protests.