Iran has reportedly executed two individuals connected to the ongoing protests in the country, according to The Hill.
The Mizan news agency, which is run by Iran’s judiciary, stated that Mohammad Mehdi Karmi and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini were hanged on Saturday for the alleged killing of a security forces member during a demonstration in Karaj on Nov 3.
This brings the total number of executions in relation to the protests to at least four.
The protests began in September, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by the morality police for reportedly wearing her hijab improperly.
Officials in Iran claimed that Amini died of a heart attack, but her family and international observers have rejected this explanation, with some eyewitnesses claiming that she was brutally beaten while in custody.
The protests have spread to multiple cities in the country and have included calls for an end to the Iranian regime, as well as acts of defiance such as the burning of hijabs and cutting of hair by women.
The Mizan news agency stated that Karmi and Hosseini had confessed to their involvement in the crime for which they were executed.
However, human rights groups have disputed the validity of these confessions, stating that they were likely coerced, and have condemned the proceedings, according to The Hill.
Iran’s justice system has faced widespread criticism for its treatment of those accused of crimes, with Amnesty International reporting that thousands of people are arbitrarily detained and unfairly prosecuted in the country for exercising their human rights.
The death penalty is also frequently used in the country following unfair trials.
