22 March 2020 :

Iran sentences another November protester, Siamak Moghimi Momeni, to death. A young man who was arrested during the protests in November 2019 in Iran was sentenced to death. Siamak Moghimi was arrested in November 2019 by the agents of IRGC Sarallah garrison. In February 2020, Siamak Moghimi Momeni, was tried by Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “assembly and collusion,” “propaganda against the state,” and “insulting Khamenei and Rouhani.” But after a month, the authorities told him that they made a mistake and now he is sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (“enmity against God”). The sentences has been issued by the Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar, presided by Judge Ramazani. Mr. Moghimi is a worker who was arrested during the November 2019 protests which erupted in response to a sudden gasoline price hike. He was returning home from work when he was exposed to tear gas as the authorities resorted to violence against people to silence dissent. He was arrested and initially taken to Shahriar Police Headquarters. Then he was transferred to Intelligence Department of Shahriar, where he was beaten during the interrogation. He was subsequently taken to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary. To date, the Iranian regime has not provided official numbers on those killed, injured or arrested during the deadly state crackdown on mid-November protests over an increase in the price of gasoline. However, the spokesman of Parliament’s National Security Committee Hossein Naqavi Hosseini gave an early estimate of 7,000 people arrested during the November 15 protests. According to eyewitness testimonies, state media reports, and reliable sources in Iran, at least 1,500 people were killed during the six days of protests in more than 144 cities. Thousands were injured and arrested, including children as young as 15, during the protests. Iranian judiciary officials have tryed and issued sentences for a number of detained protesters. In February, a court in Tehran sentenced three protesters to death (see Hands off Cain 21/02/2020). The three men identified as Amir Hossein Moradi, Saied Tamjidi and Mohammad Rajabi were also sentenced to overall 38 years of prison and 222 lashes by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The three are currently detained in the notorious Greater Tehran Prison, also known as Fashafuyeh.