Iran protests: Court sentences first person to death over nationwide unrest

A revolutionary court in Iran has issued the first death sentence to a person arrested for taking part in demonstrations that have swept the country since September, according to the judiciary’s Mizan website.

The court in Tehran found the defendant, who was not named, had set fire to a government facility and was guilty of moharebeh (enmity against God).

In a statement on Monday, Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO, said official reports also indicated that Iran may be planning to carry out "hasty executions", with at least 20 protesters currently facing charges punishable by death.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, a director at the organisation, said: “The international community must strongly warn the Islamic Republic of the consequences of executing protesters. 

"Summoning their ambassadors and implementing stronger effective human rights action against state officials are amongst the consequences European countries must consider.”

The death sentence comes at a time of one of the boldest challenges to Iran's clerical rulers since the 1979 revolution amid nationwide protests sparked by the death on 16 September of Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police for not wearing "appropriate attire".

Iran's leadership has struggled to suppress the demonstrations, during which hundreds of people, mostly protesters, have been killed according to activists.

The human rights activists news agency Hrana says more than 14,000 people have also been arrested in protests in 136 cities and towns, and 134 universities.

Earlier this month, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said the country's cities were "safe and sound" after what he called a failed attempt by the United States to repeat the 2011 Arab uprisings in Iran.