Isfahan. Another young protester has been sentenced to death as part of the ongoing crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran. Sasan Azadvar Zonghani, 21, from Isfahan was hanged in ‘Dastgard Prison’ on Thursday, BBC News Persian reports. According to the official statement of the Iranian judiciary, Sasan was accused of inciting violence and trying to overthrow the regime during the protests in January this year.
Officials claim they attacked a minibus carrying security personnel with stones and batons. Additionally, he was also accused of instigating his friends to join the demonstrations and damaging public property. According to sources of human rights organization HRANA, Sasan’s last rites were conducted in utmost secrecy and under tight security. The administration had set up a ‘safe zone’ for this and only 10 close family members were allowed to attend.
- Human rights organizations raised questions
International human rights activists have raised serious questions on the fairness of this court process. Activists say that:
The accused was not given impartial legal aid and access to a lawyer.
No information was shared about his condition during his detention.
Iran often has a long record of extracting ‘confessions’ through pressure and torture.
The execution is another example of growing tensions between the government and youth fighting for civil rights in Iran.
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