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Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini (Persian: سیدمحمد حسینی; died 7 January 2023) was a 39-year-old Iranian man who was executed by Iran's Islamic Republic for his participation in the Mahsa Amini protests. He was found guilty of Fisad-e-filarz (an Arabic term translating to "corruption on Earth") for his alleged involvement in the murder of a Basij militiaman during demonstrations in Karaj during the memorial of Hadis Najafi. Hosseini was hanged with Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a 22-year-old sportsman who was also convicted of Fisad-e-filarz for his alleged role in the same killing. Hosseini maintained his innocence throughout his arrest and trial.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]Mahsa Amini protests
[edit]Thousands of protesters have been detained as a result of the Mahsa Amini protests, and dozens have been charged with offenses such as Moharebeh ("waging war against God") or Fisad-e-filarz ("corruption on Earth"), which are punishable by death in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prior to Hosseini and Karami's executions, Iranian authorities executed Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both of whom were convicted of Moharebeh for different claimed acts related to the Mahsa Amini protests.
Personal life
[edit]Both of Hosseini parents passed away. He has only one living brother that has not been seen since his arrest. He was a Martial arts instructor and used to voluntarily coach teenagers for free.
Every Thursday, Hosseini would pay his respects at his parents' graves. He was detained on Hadis Najafi's 40th memorial day, while on his way to pay his respects at his parents' graves, who are buried in the same cemetery as Hadis Najafi. He consistently said that he had no involvement in the alleged crime and had not even attended the demonstrations.
Allegations, arrest, and trial
[edit]Hosseini was arrested in relation to the killing of a Basij Militiaman by the name of Roohollah Ajamian. According to Masoud Setayeshi, spokesperson for the Iranian Judiciary, a gang of individuals referred to as "rioters" followed Ajamian with knives and stones, stripped him naked, and murdered him during a rally commemorating the 40th anniversary of Hadis Najafi's death. Protesters and anti-government demonstrators were regularly referred to as "rioters" by the Iranian regime. On the day of the alleged crime, videos appeared on social media showing a major highway closed off with Ajamian's corpse laying motionless on the ground, clothed in a Basij outfit (despite the allegation indicating Ajamian had been stripped nude). In connection with Ajamian's death, Iranian officials apprehended sixteen people: thirteen adult males, including Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, and three juvenile boys. Setayeshi's investigation provided no proof to back up the allegations that Karami and Hosseini were engaged in the purported crime.[4][5]
On November 3, 2022, Hosseini was charged with "corruption on earth by committing crimes against the security of the country," "attacking police officers and Basij," and "gathering and conspiring against the security of the country" in a session of the Karaj Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Moosa Asefolhosseini. During the court hearing, he said in his defense, "I do not accept the claims brought against me." Neither Hosseini nor Karami were formally charged with first-degree murder[6], but rather with vague accusations that the Islamic Republic authorities often employ against political detainees.
The Islamic Revolutionary Court tried the case of Hosseini and the other accused adults. The trial of Hosseini lasted less than a week. He was denied the ability to pick his own lawyer and were instead represented by a government-appointed attorney. Hosseini consistently rejected the claims brought against him. He was sentenced to death on December 5, 2022, alongside Mohammad Mehdi Karami. The remaining eleven inmates, including three adolescents, received hefty prison sentences. On January 3, 2023, the Iranian Supreme Court accepted petitions from three protestors due to insufficient investigations. However, Hosseini and Karami death sentences were maintained.[4][5]
On December 19, 2022, Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, a human rights advocate, revealed that he had been tortured, saying that he "got to meet with Mohammad Hosseini in the prison." According to Mr. Sharifzadeh: "I met Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini in Karaj prison. His narrative was full with tears. Torture, beating with the eyes, wrists, and feet tied, kicking the head and knocking unconscious, an iron rod to the soles of the feet and shocks throughout the body, a man whose admissions were tortured and have no legal basis."[7]
Responses
[edit]Following the killings of Hosseini and Karami, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) asked Iran to "halt all executions." "We deplore the execution of two more protestors, #MohammadMehdiKarami & #MohammadHosseini, following unfair trials based on forced confessions," the OHCHR tweeted on January 7, 2023. The OHCHR condemned Iran's death of protesters as "shocking," despite worldwide outrage.[8][9]
In a statement, Iran Human Rights director Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam said, "The executions are an extension of the killing of defenceless protesters in prison and have no legal basis."[1]
See also
[edit]- Death of Mahsa Amini
- Death of Nika Shakarami
- Deaths during the Mahsa Amini protests
- Death sentences during the Mahsa Amini protests
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mahmood, Celine Alkhaldi,Nima Elbagir,Artemis Moshtaghian,Zahid (2022-12-23). "Exclusive: Iranian footballer is among dozens facing execution while the West is distracted by Christmas, supporters fear". CNN. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Fassihi, Farnaz (2023-01-07). "Iran Executes 2 Men Arrested in Protests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "قوه قضاییه از اجرای حکم اعدام محمد مهدی کرمی و سیدمحمد حسینی، معترضان زندانی خبر داد". ایران اینترنشنال (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ a b "Iran sentences five to death over killing of paramilitary member". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ a b "دیوان عالی جمهوری اسلامی حکم اعدام محمدمهدی کرمی و محمد حسینی را تأیید کرد". صدای آمریکا (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "اقدام مرحومان #محمدمهدی_کرمی و #سیدمحمد_حسینی قتل عمد نبود..." Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "وکیل محمد حسینی جزئیاتی از «شکنجه شدید» او منتشر کرد". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "Iran executes two more protesters connected to nationwide uprising". Washington Examiner. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "#Iran: We deplore the execution of two more protesters, #MohammadMehdiKarami & #MohammadHosseini, following unfair trials based on forced confessions..." Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-11.