Iran hangs two men convicted of involvement in Mashhad anti-government protests
Iran executed two men sentenced for taking part in the January riots in Mashhad that left four security officers dead.
Iran’s judicial website Mizan Online reported that two men have been executed by hanging for participating in the January disturbances in the northeastern city of Mashhad. The court found them responsible for the riots that killed four members of the security forces and for setting fires that caused major damage to public property. The unrest, which started in December amid economic discontent, grew into mass anti-government demonstrations in January and was met with a severe crackdown.
Officials labeled the violence as “terrorist actions” they claim were directed by the United States and Israel. Tehran’s authorities have tallied more than 3,000 deaths linked to the protests, and Amnesty International says Iran carries out the second-highest number of executions globally, after China.
