Waging war against God': Iran hangs 20-year-old protester, third anti-regime demonstrator executed in a week
Iran executed 20-year-old protester Arvin Kheirkhah, arrested during January's anti-government demonstrations, according to Iran International. The execution has renewed fears for several other detainees on death row, despite repeated calls from the UN to halt such executions.
Iran has executed a 20-year-old protester, Arvin Kheirkhah, convicted of "waging war against God," according to Iran International. This marks the third anti-regime demonstrator to face execution in a week. Kheirkhah was transferred to solitary confinement on Wednesday before his execution on Saturday at Shahroud prison. His family gathered outside the prison to prevent the hanging, with Kheirkhah reportedly stating, "Don't let them forget me.
We stood up for the liberation of our homeland. Don't let the path we chose be silenced." Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last monarch, condemned the execution and warned of potential further deaths among other detainees. The execution follows the public hanging of two other young protesters in Isfahan, raising concerns over the fate of eight others facing death sentences for their roles in January's anti-government protests.
UN experts had previously called for an end to these executions, citing concerns over fair-trial violations and televised confessions. Iran has faced international criticism over its treatment of protesters, with rights groups accusing authorities of arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, and executions of demonstrators.
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