Iran has sentenced three protesters to death and footballer Amir Nasr Azadani to 16 years in prison.
Azadani and the other accused allegedly committed a crime described as partaking in the “assistance in enmity against God” in which a person was killed.
The ruling was reportedly made on Monday, (9 January 2023).
Azadani was found guilty of involvement in the murders of three Basij officers paramilitary volunteers affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
Iran has been rocked by protests since the death on 16 September 2022 of a Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for not wearing her hijab properly.
Her death in the custody of Iran’s morality police sparked the protests.
Azadani and many others joined the protests and now face the full might of the ruling clerics, who are showing no signs of backing down.
Reports from Iran indicate that more and more protestors were being executed by the Islamic regime led by President Ebrahim Raisi.
The president blames terrorists for the continuing demonstrations.
While close confidantes of Azadani admit that he took part in the demonstrations, they deny he took part in any violence, let alone the murders of three people.
The 26-year-old Iranian international footballer was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his involvement in the murder of the three Basij officers, five for assembly and collusion to commit crimes, and five more for being a member of illegal groups with the intention of disturbing public safety.
A report from AS, said Azadani will serve the sentences concurrently- meaning he will spend 16 years in prison.
In the same trial, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi Sheikh Shabani, and Saeed Yaqoubi were reportedly sentenced to death for “waging war against God”.
However, the sentences are not final, and the Supreme Court will rule on them.
