Iran sentences three more to death over Mahsa Amini protests

Iran has sentenced to death three people accused of killing three members of the security forces during the protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, the judiciary said on Monday.

The Islamic Republic has been rocked by civil unrest since the 16 September death of Kurdish Iranian Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women. Her Kurdish name can be spelt "Zhina" or "Jina".

The latest sentences, which can still be appealed, bring to 17 the total number of people condemned to death in connection with the more than three months of protests.

Four of those convicted have been executed and two others are on death row after their sentences were upheld by the country's supreme court.

Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi and Saeed Yaghoubi were sentenced to death on charges of "moharebeh" – or waging "war against God" – the judiciary's Mizan Online news website reported.

Two others were handed prison terms for the incident that led to the deaths of three security force members in the central province of Isfahan on 16 November, Mizan said.

All the sentences can be appealed before the supreme court, it added.

Trigger warning: this video contains graphic execution images

On Saturday, Iran hanged Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini for allegedly killing a paramilitary force member in November in Karaj, west of Tehran.

The European Union's top diplomat on Saturday condemned the executions and called on Iran to immediately stop carrying out death sentences against protestors, and annul existing sentences.

"This is yet another sign of the Iranian authorities' violent repression of civilian demonstrations," Josep Borrell said in a statement.

The US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, also condemned the executions, saying they followed "sham trials".

"These executions must stop," Malley said on Twitter on Saturday.

Two other men, Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, were put to death in December after being convicted of separate attacks on security forces.

The executions have sparked global outrage and new Western sanctions against Tehran.

(AFP, Reuters)