Iran on Tuesday upheld two death sentences for killing paramilitaries during national protests, the judiciary said, but ordered retrials for three others on death row in the same case.
The Supreme Court decision came as a lower court sentenced an 18-year-old to death in a separate case related to protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody on September 16.
After review, the appeals of Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini “were not found to be valid, therefore the sentence was upheld and approved,” the Supreme Court said in a statement.
The death sentences against Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou, Hossein Mohammadi and Reza Aria were overturned “due to defects in the process,” the court said, adding that they would be retried.
Amnesty International said Ghare-Hasanlou, a doctor, and his wife had been “caught up in the chaos” that led to the paramilitary’s death.
Prosecutors said Ruhollah Ajamian, a member of the Basij paramilitary force, was stripped and killed in Karaj, west of Tehran, on November 3 during a memorial for slain protester Hadis Najafi.
The court also ordered a retrial for 11 other accused giving long jail terms in the case.
The supreme court’s decision came as a lower court sentenced Mehdi Mohammadifard to death after convicting him of the capital offense of “corruption of the earth” and “enemy to God”, the court’s Mizan Online news website reported.
Mohammadifard was accused of “committing arson, destroying public property, colluding and conspiring to commit crimes against the security of the country and inciting people to cause insecurity,” said Mizan.
Human rights groups outside Iran say Mohammadifard is 18 years old and is accused of setting fire to a traffic police kiosk in the western city of Nowshahr.
Iran has been rocked by protests and unrest since the death of Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman who was arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
Authorities said hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, had died in the “unrest”. Thousands have been arrested.
Mohammadifard was convicted of “committing arson, destroying public property, colluding and conspiring to commit crimes against national security and inciting people to cause insecurity,” said Mizan.
The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Group said Mohammadifard was accused of setting fire to a traffic police kiosk in the western city of Nowshahr.
Iranian courts have handed down 13 death sentences in connection with the protests, five of them for Ajamian’s murder.
Two convicts were hanged in December. Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both 23 years old, have been convicted of separate attacks on security forces.
The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of two other prisoners, Mohammad Boroghani and Mohammd Ghobadlou, also accused of attacking security forces. It has ordered six retrials.