Iran Protests: 15 Minutes vs the Death Penalty

By Girisha D

Warning: this article may contain distressing content for some readers

With Iran heavily restricting media accessibility for the citizens, it is very difficult to gain information of what is going on, but recently, a large amount of information has been gathered regarding execution processes and conditions inside the prisons of Iran.

Mohammad Mehdi Karami was a 22- year- old karate champion, was hanged on the 7th January, after sixty-five days of being detained. The young man was initially arrested on the grounds of being associated with the murder of a member of parliamentary Basij force during protests in Karaj. However, he was later charged with “corruption on Earth” and went on trial on 30th November.

Karami wasn’t allowed to choose his own layer, and so was appointed one from a list approved by the judiciary. This lawyer decided it was best to not fight against the charges, but to plead guilty and ask for forgiveness. However, Karami had under 15 minutes to defend himself against the death penalty.

A heart-breaking account from Mohammed’s father recounts how Karami asked his father not to tell his mother about being charged with the death penalty, concerned about the effect it would have on her. During a meeting with his family, Karami confided how he had been beaten unconscious and dumped in a remote area, under the presumption he was dead. He also told his family how he had been touched inappropriately and threatened with rape, something many people who have been wrongfully imprisoned have been reporting.

Karami’s family tried many things, one of them being putting themselves at risk by sharing Karami’s story, spreading awareness, and publicising his situation. They also hired one of the most prolific human rights lawyers in Iran, who appealed to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, all attempts were unsuccessful, and Mohammad Medhi Karami was hanged on 7th January.

Another tragic story is that of Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, a 39-year-old children’s coach who was hanged on the same day. Hosseini was an orphan, so there was no familyled campaign for his innocence, but the surge of online support he received and his ability to get independent legal representation was looking hopeful.

In December, Hosseini’s lawyer visited him in prison, and Hosseini, having suffered during his time in jail, confided in his lawyer about how he had been tortured, beaten till he was unconscious and had suffered much more. His lawyer decided to tweet about it, hoping to spread awareness, but this was a mistake on his end. On the 7th January, whilst his lawyer was on the way to collect appeal papers from the Supreme Court, Hosseini was hanged, and his lawyer was later detained, due to his abuse allegations.

However, these stories that we read about in the news involve real people, that are being forced to confess for crimes they haven’t even committed, then prosecuted and charged with the death penalty based on these “confessions.” Every day, more protestors are arrested for unjust reasons and people continue to be executed.