Execution of Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini

Mahsa Amini protests Thousands of protesters were detained as a result of the Mahsa Amini protests, and dozens were charged with offenses such as Moharebeh ("waging war against God") or Fisad-e-filarz ("corruption on Earth"), which are punishable by death in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prior to Hosseini and Karami's executions, Iranian authorities executed Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both of whom were convicted of Moharebeh for different claimed acts related to the Mahsa Amini protests. Personal life Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini was an Iranian martial arts athlete and Kickboxing champion in 2003. People who knew him well said the swords and knives discovered in his house were his martial arts equipment. He himself stated in both the short film of "Court" and "Reconstruction of the site of Ajmian's murder" released by the state media that those equipment were "for exercising." He used to coach teenagers in martial arts for free. Every Thursday, Hosseini would pay his respects at his parents' graves. He was detained on Hadis Najafi's 40th memorial day, while on his way to pay his respects at his parents' graves, who are buried in the same cemetery as Hadis Najafi. He consistently said that he had no involvement in the alleged crime and had not even attended the demonstrations. == Allegations, arrest, and trial ==

Hosseini was arrested in relation to the killing of a Basij Militiaman by the name of Roohollah Ajamian. According to Masoud Setayeshi, spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, a gang of individuals referred to as "rioters" followed Ajamian with knives and stones, stripped him naked, and murdered him during a rally commemorating the 40th anniversary of Hadis Najafi's death. Protesters and anti-government demonstrators were regularly referred to as "rioters" by the Iranian regime. On the day of the alleged crime, videos appeared on social media showing a major highway closed off with Ajamian's corpse laying on the ground, clothed in a Basij outfit (despite the allegation that Ajamian had been stripped nude). In connection with Ajamian's death, Iranian officials apprehended sixteen people: thirteen adult males, including Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, and three juvenile boys. Setayeshi's investigation provided no proof to back up the allegations that Karami and Hosseini were engaged in the purported crime. On 3 November 2022, Hosseini was charged with "corruption on earth by committing crimes against the security of the country," "attacking police officers and Basij," and "gathering and conspiring against the security of the country" in a session of the Karaj Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Moosa Asefolhosseini. During the court hearing, he said in his defense, "I do not accept the claims brought against me." Neither Hosseini nor Karami were formally charged with first-degree murder but rather with vague accusations that the Islamic Republic authorities often employ against political detainees. The Islamic Revolutionary Court tried the case of Hosseini and the other accused adults. The trial of Hosseini lasted less than a week. He was denied the ability to pick his own lawyer and was instead represented by a government-appointed attorney. His state-appointed lawyer's identity has not been published in any of the court reports or news articles on him in any of the official media. He had only seen his state-appointed lawyer in court and didn't know his name. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, a Tehran-based lawyer, sought to defend him in court, but the judge refused. == Responses ==

Following the killings of Hosseini and Karami, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) asked Iran to "halt all executions." "We deplore the execution of two more protestors, #MohammadMehdiKarami & #SeyyedMohammadHosseini, following unfair trials based on forced confessions," the OHCHR tweeted on 7 January 2023. The OHCHR condemned Iran's death of protesters as "shocking," despite worldwide outrage. In a statement, Iran Human Rights director Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam said, "The executions are an extension of the killing of defenceless protesters in prison and have no legal basis." == See also ==