16 Nov 2022

Iran issues death sentence to protester

From Morning Report, 6:50 am on 16 November 2022

A court in Iran has issued the first death sentence to a person arrested for taking part in the protests against the country's government. 

The Revolutionary Court in Tehran found the defendant had set fire to government porperty and was guilty of "enmity against God". 

Another court jailed five people for up to ten years on national security and public order charges, and reportedly  at least another 20 people are facing charges punishable by death. 

A human rights group has warned Iranian authorities may be planning "hasty executions". 

Protests in Iran began two months ago after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini who was detained by morailty police for allegedly breaking strict hijab rules. 

BBC's Persian Service journalist Siavash Ardalan spoke to Māni Dunlop.