Iranian women in the diaspora protesting the executions of protestors in Iran. Woman, Life, Freedom protest – December 17, 2022, Ottawa, Canada. Photo by Taymaz Valley – CC BY 2.0. Following the tragic death of 21-year-old old Mahsa Amini, who was beaten up in police custody for not wearing a ‘proper hijab,’ and the subsequent nationwide protests under the banner of “Woman, Life, Freedom,” the government responded with a severe crackdown. This crackdown resulted in the suppression of protestors, numerous fatalities, and the arrest of thousands across the country. Since the beginning of the judicial proceedings for detained protesters during the nationwide protests of 2022 in Iran, at least 25 protesters have been sentenced to death, with seven of them already executed. The executed protesters were primarily charged with offenses such as “waging war against God” and “corruption on earth.” They were often deprived of their right to choose a defense attorney during the trial proceedings. Alongside the hundreds of protesters killed or injured during these protests, thousands of individuals have been arrested, with many facing indictments that include charges of being “muhareb” (“fighter”), which is extremely dangerous under Iranian law, as it carries the risk of execution for those who are charged with this offense. Farshid Kermani, a former lawyer in Iran who uses a pseudonym for safety reasons, emphasized in a phone conversation with Global Voices that the judiciary in Iran often relies on charges such as “waging war against God” and being labeled a muhareb. These charges stem from the subjective comprehension and interpretation of the Islamic faith by religious authorities, including Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kermani emphasized that these charges are used as the basis for issuing and carrying out death sentences against protesters. He stated: Any group or organization that partakes in armed rebellion against the Islamic government, along with all its members and supporters who possess knowledge of the group's stance and actively contribute to furthering its objectives, are deemed muhareb. This classification applies even if individuals themselves do not directly engage in combat activities. However, Kermani also notes that a judge is not obligated to automatically impose a death sentence solely based on someone being considered a muhareb: It is possible for an individual to be classified as muhareb without automatically receiving a death sentence. If an individual commits murder, then they may indeed be deserving of the death penalty. However, if their actions are confined to threats and intimidation, even if they carry the charge of muhareb, it does not necessarily justify imposing the death penalty. Mohsen Shekari, the first protester executed in Iran due to the protests, was hanged to death on December 8, 2022. Screenshot from the Quint video. Fair use. Just two days before the execution of Mohsen Shekari, the first protester to be executed in recent months, Khamenei referred to the protesters who obstructed the streets as “wounds.” He ominously suggested that if these wounds did not heal, they should be treated with a “fire heated red-hot iron.” Tragically, Mohsen Shekari was executed on the grounds of blocking the street and injuring a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces. The Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, established by Ayatollah Khomeini's students, released a statement endorsing the actions of the Islamic Republic's judiciary in executing protesters. In their statement, they urged judges to adopt even more resolute punitive measures by conducting additional executions, aiming to serve as a deterrent for other protesters. A few months ago, during street protests in various cities across Iran, a statement signed by 227 members of parliament called for the judiciary to execute protesters, whom they labeled as muhareb and likened to “Islamic State members.” This inflammatory statement only fueled the anger among the protesters, further exacerbating the situation. According to a report by Mizan News Agency, which is affiliated with the judiciary of Iran, the head of the organization, Mohseni-Eje'i said: Those who, based on the law, should be executed for their actions and crimes, have been or will be executed without compromise and, of course, with justice and fairness. Qom City is the seventh largest city in Iran. Photo by Mostafameraji – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0. Fair use. In stark contrast, other clerics have expressed their opposition to the court rulings, deeming them inconsistent with the principles of Islam and Islamic punishments. One of these voices is Sadegh Hosseini, a pseudonym used to protect their safety.