Mohsen Shekari was hanged on Thursday morning after the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran convicted him moharebeh or “make war with God.”
This is the first execution of a protester convicted for taking part in a recent anti-government protest caused by the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for violating strict dress codes, according to the media.
Meanwhile, authorities have confirmed the death sentences of 12 other people charged moharebeh or fee of effad-e fel-arz“corruption on earth”.
call abort
“Executions after unfair trials constitute an act of arbitrary deprivation of life,” the experts said. statementcalled on Iran to establish a moratorium on executions “with a view to abolishing the death penalty”.
They reiterate that under international law, the death penalty can only be imposed and enforced on crimes that meet the threshold of the most serious crimes, involving willful homicide, and are subject to a legal process that offers all possible safeguards to ensure a fair trial.
“We fear for the lives of Iranian artists, who have been prosecuted for crimes that carry the death penalty,” the experts said.
Death and Torture
They specifically mentioned Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin, who is said to have been sentenced to death after being found guilty. moharebeh by the Islamic Court on October 29.
And in the trial that took place behind closed doors without his lawyer, rapper Toomaj Salehi was indicted for effad-e fel-arzalso carries the death penalty.
Mr. Yasin was arrested on October 2 for posting songs critical of the Government, and Mr. Salehi on October 30 for posting videos of him encouraging followers to protest as well as songs disparaging the Iranian government.
“We are also bewildered by the news that the artists are currently in solitary confinement and about the allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Mr. Toomaj Salehi,” the experts said.
Silence the dissidents
According to the latest information that reached UN experts, Toomaj Salehi suffered a broken nose, broken several fingers and a severely damaged leg.
The statement continued: “These arrests and indictments appear to be solely related to the peaceful exercise of their legal right to freedom of artistic and creative expression.”
The artist is currently in solitary confinement – UN expert
“They are only intended to silence dissenting voices in the country and constitute undue restrictions on the right of all people in Iran to enjoy and have access to the arts and to participate in life.” culture and public”.
Hand in hand to create art
The protests, which erupted after Amini’s death in September for allegedly violating Iran’s strict hijab rules, were met with a deadly crackdown by security forces.
At least 40 Iranian artists, writers, poets, actors, filmmakers and musicians have been arrested and jailed.
Experts say Iran’s control of protests constitutes a violation of international human rights treaties to which the country is a party.
They reiterated their call for the immediate release of thousands of protesters prosecuted for participating in peaceful protests, asserting that artistic creativity is necessary for the development of cultures. vibrant and functioning democratic societies.
Experts
United Nations experts have expressed concern to the Iranian Government about these cases, calling on them to put an end to all human rights abuses.
Click here for the names of the experts who signed the statement.
Special Rapporteur and independent experts appointed by the UN based in Geneva Dong Nhan Quyen Association arrive check and report back about a particular human rights topic or a country situation. The positions are honorary and professionals are not paid for their work.
