Iran Executes Three Men Convicted in Karaj Protest Attacks

Iranian authorities executed Hassan Dioband, Hamid Kazemi and Reza Zanganeh after the Supreme Court upheld their death sentences in a case tied to January’s anti-government protests. The judiciary accused the men of armed attacks on public and government facilities in Karaj, including damaging an electricity substation, and of acting on behalf of the United States and Israel; the men’s convictions and the accusations were reported by state media. The executions add to a broader campaign against people detained over the protests: Rudaw reported that two other protesters were executed earlier in the same week, and cited Iran Human Rights’ tally of at least 36 protesters executed in connection with the unrest. Other defendants in the case received prison terms of five to 10 years.