Iranian authorities executed a protester Thursday who was convicted of attacking a military installation during the country’s January anti-government demonstrations, according to the judiciary’s news agency Mizan.
Amirhossein Hatami was put to death after Iran’s Supreme Court rejected his appeal and confirmed his death sentence. Officials said he was found guilty of breaking into a restricted military installation in Tehran, setting fires that damaged the facility, and trying to steal weapons and ammunition. According to Mizan, Hatami confessed to these actions while being questioned.
Last month, Hamzeh Khalili, the judiciary’s first deputy chief, announced that legal proceedings related to January’s protests had concluded and punishments were being carried out. The January demonstrations represented a nationwide anti-government uprising that Iranian officials suppressed in what they called the most severe crackdown since the Islamic Republic was established.
Human rights organization Amnesty International had previously identified Hatami as one of 11 individuals facing imminent execution risk. The group stated these men had been “subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention, before being convicted in grossly unfair trials that relied on forced confessions.”
Iran previously executed three other men in March who were convicted of killing two police officers during the January protests. This has prompted concern from human rights organizations like Hengaw, who worry that Tehran is escalating executions of political prisoners and demonstrators as the country faces increased military and international pressure.
