Iran's Harsh Crackdown on Hijab Protests... 3 More Sentenced to Death

WSJ "Number of Protesters Sentenced to Death Rises to at Least 5"

[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Iran's judicial authorities have been issuing consecutive death sentences to participants in the hijab protests this week. As the hijab protests enter their third month, concerns are growing that the death toll will rise further as the authorities respond with a hardline approach.

On the 16th (local time), Iran's judicial authorities sentenced three additional anti-government protesters to death, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). WSJ added that this brings the total number of protesters sentenced to death to at least five. Iran's judicial authorities handed down the first death sentence related to the protests on the 13th. WSJ predicted that the number of death sentences could increase as the Iranian authorities take a tougher stance.

The identities of the three newly sentenced to death have not been confirmed. However, WSJ, citing local news reports, stated that one of them is accused of running over and killing a police officer with his car and injuring several others. The other two were sentenced to death for stabbing security personnel with a knife and setting fire to government buildings.

WSJ explained that the charges applied to the three sentenced to death are all vague and are the same methods previously used when death sentences were applied to dissidents. It added that Iran has faced international criticism for issuing judicial rulings against dissidents without due process in the past.

In Iran, anti-government protests have continued since September after female university student Mahsa Amini was taken by police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly and died under suspicious circumstances.

Human rights organization Human Rights has reported that at least 348 people, including 52 minors, have lost their lives due to clashes during the crackdown. It also stated that nearly 16,000 protesters have been arrested since the protests began, but it is unclear how many remain in detention.

The protesters have intensified their resistance starting from the 15th, marking the third anniversary of the "Bloody November." Bloody November refers to the incident when citizens, angered by the government's fuel price hike, held protests that were violently suppressed, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Iran's state media IRNA reported that casualties among security forces related to the protests are increasing. On the 16th, IRNA reported that two assailants on motorcycles shot security personnel with Kalashnikov rifles, killing five. IRNA stated, "Armed terrorists took advantage of the protests to carry out shootings at the request of opposition and anti-government groups."