Iran hangs two men over protest charges in public square, media says

Iran’s judiciary said on Tuesday that Abolfazl Sepahi and Amir-Hossein Safari had been executed over charges linked to anti-government protests, while Mehr news agency reported that the hangings took place in a public square.

The judiciary’s Mizan Online website said the death sentences were carried out in the morning. Mehr reported that the execution took place in a square in Malekshahr, in the central province of Isfahan, with people present.

Mizan said the two men were found guilty over an alleged January 8 attack on police officers involving machetes and knives. It said they were accused of tying officers to road signs, pulling them on the ground, dousing them with gasoline and setting them on fire.

The judiciary said the men faced charges including moharebeh, or waging war against God, and corruption on earth for acts it said severely disrupted public order and security.

The protest movement began in late December over the high cost of living and grew into wider anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9. Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths and blamed the violence on what they called terrorist acts orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Rights groups based abroad say security forces fired on protesters.

Two other men were hanged on July 19 over similar charges in Isfahan province. Amnesty International says Iran carries out more executions than any country except China.