Iran | At Least 100 Protesters Facing Execution, Death Penalty Charges or Sentences; At Least 476 Protesters Killed

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 27, 2022: At least 476 people including 64 children and 34 women, have been killed by security forces in the current nationwide protests. The death toll increase relates to recently verified cases from the first two months of the protests.

Furthermore, at least 100 protesters are currently at risk of execution, death penalty charges or sentences. This is a minimum as most families are under pressure to stay quiet, the real number is believed to be much higher.

Welcoming parliamentarians volunteering as political sponsors, Iran Human Rights reiterates the need to increase the political cost of executions for the Islamic Republic.

Director Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam said: “Despite more than 100 days passing since the start of the nationwide protests, hundreds being killed, thousands arrested and protesters being executed, the people’s uprising for real change and achieving fundamental rights continues. The challenge facing people is the price they have to pay to achieve this goal. More widespread participation inside and outside the country and the international community supporting this uprising, can help lower the cost.”

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least 476 people including 64 children have been killed by security forces in the nationwide protests so far. Of the 64 children, nine were girls. They were all under 18 years of age, but have not all been verified through document evidence. Iran Human Rights is working to obtain confirmation of their ages.

The aforementioned numbers only relate to protests on the streets. Protesters Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard who were executed and those that have died under suspicious circumstances (include alleged suicides) shortly after release are not included in these statistics.

Death Toll by Province

Protesters have been killed in 25 provinces, with the most reported in Sistan and Baluchistan, Western Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Tehran and Mazandaran respectively.

Deaths have been recorded in 25 provinces: Sistan and Baluchistan: 130 people; West Azerbaijan: 53 people; Kurdistan: 53 people; Tehran: 52 people; Mazandaran: 38 people; Gilan: 26 people; Kermanshah: 25 people; Alborz: 23 people; Isfahan: 14 people; Fars: 11 people; Khuzestan: 11 people; Khorasan-Razavi: 7 people; East Azerbaijan: 4 people; Zanjan: 3 people; Lorestan: 3 people; Markazi: 3 people; Qazvin: 3 people; Hamevdan: 3 people; Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad: 2 people; Ardabil: 2 people; Ilam: 2 people; Bushehr: 2 people; Hormozgan: 2 person; Semnan: 1 person; Golestan: 1 person.

Crucial to note: Iran Human Rights started researching and recording protester deaths from the outset of protests. In the course of research and as new information is obtained, the data will be adjusted accordingly. As such, it is reflected in the change in province numbers.

The most number of deaths were recorded on 21, 22 and 30 September (Baluchistan’s “Bloody Friday”). November 4 was the bloodiest day in November with 21 recorded deaths.

Numbers are a “minimum”

The death toll is an absolute minimum. Reports of protester killings in the last few days are still being investigated. Iran Human Rights has received a high volume of reports of deaths which it continues to investigate with security considerations and internet disruptions. The actual number of people killed therefore, is certainly higher.

The Islamic Republic is intentionally creating confusion in protester cases by sharing contradicting statements, particularly in death penalty cases. This is further perpetuated by the fact that security defendants do not have access to their own lawyers per the Note to Article 48 of the CCP and their family contact is restricted. Many lawyers have reported being prevented from accessing their clients and their cases at all stages of the legal proceedings.

PROTESTERS AT RISK OF EXECUTION, DEATH PENALTY CHARGES OR SENTENCES

This list includes both officially reported cases and those reported by family members and citizen journalists. Iran Human Rights has been unable to confirm the details of all individual cases and therefore requests that anyone with information about protesters at risk of death penalty charges or sentences contact us on mail@iranhr.net or 0061478494849 on Signal, WhatsApp or Telegram.

It is important to note that all defendants in the following cases have been deprived of the right to access their own lawyer, due process and fair trials. In cases where they have managed to make contact or details of their cases reported by cellmates and human rights defenders, all have been subjected to physical and mental torture to force false self-incriminating confessions. In many cases, their forced confessions were aired prior to the commencement of any legal proceedings, violating their right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. There is ambiguity in many cases due to the Islamic Republic’s lack of transparency.

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Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, December 27, 2022

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