Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-03-29 09:32:50
An Iranian court has handed down a death sentence to a police chief in northern Iran for the killing of a protester during mass demonstrations in 2022. Local media reports revealed that the police chief, Jafar Javanmardi, was arrested in December 2022 following the death of a protester amidst the widespread protests triggered by the tragic demise of Mahsa Amini while in custody.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, passed away in custody in September of that year after being arrested for allegedly breaching the country’s strict dress code for women. Javanmardi was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to death under the Islamic law of retribution, known as the ‘qisas’ law, according to the victim’s family lawyer, Majid Ahmadi, as stated in the reformist Shargh daily.
The victim, Mehran Samak, aged 27, succumbed to injuries sustained after being hit by shotgun pellets during a demonstration in the city of Bandar Anzali on November 30, 2022. Reports from rights groups outside Iran suggested that Samak was fatally shot by Iranian security forces for honking his car horn in celebration of Iran’s defeat to the United States in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, coinciding with the Amini protest. The loss eliminated Iran from the football tournament and garnered a mixed response from both government supporters and opponents.
Ahmadi, the lawyer, clarified that the police chief was charged with violating firearms usage regulations, which resulted in Samak’s death. In mid-January, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website confirmed that the Supreme Court had overturned a previous death sentence and transferred the case to another court. The province of Gilan, where Bandar Anzali is situated, was a focal point of the nationwide protest movement that rocked Iran.
The months-long protests led to hundreds of casualties, including numerous security forces, and the arrest of thousands of individuals. Additionally, nine men were executed in connection with the demonstrations. The turmoil sparked significant unrest nationwide, highlighting deep-seated socio-political issues within the country.
The case of Jafar Javanmardi underscores the complex and turbulent nature of Iran’s internal dynamics, where dissent and protest are met with strict measures by the authorities. Despite the significant international attention and condemnation, the Iranian government has continued to crack down on dissenting voices and suppress popular movements seeking social and political change.
The death sentence handed to the police chief serves as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with civil unrest and the consequences of state-sanctioned violence. It also raises questions about the state of human rights and freedom of expression in Iran, prompting global scrutiny and calls for accountability from the Iranian government. The legacy of Mahsa Amini and Mehran Samak continues to resonate, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for justice and democracy in Iran.
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