Iran Hangs Two Over Deadly Shrine Attack
Iran executed two men at dawn Saturday for their role in the brutal Islamic State (IS) attack on the sacred Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz. The October 26 assault left 13 dead and 30 injured, sending shockwaves through the nation.
Public Hanging Sends Harsh Warning
The judiciary’s Mizan Online confirmed the hangings of Mohammad Ramez Rashidi and Naeem Hashem Qatali on a street near the shrine. Though Iran hinted the attackers came from neighbouring countries like Afghanistan, the executed men’s nationalities remain undisclosed.
The border area between Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is notorious for unrest. Just days after the executions, four gunmen killed an Iranian policeman in the Sunni-majority city of Zahedan near the same volatile frontier.
Confession and Crackdown
Mizan reported Rashidi confessed to working with IS on the shrine attack. Both men were sentenced to death in March for charges including armed rebellion, acting against national security, and IS membership. Three others involved received prison terms between five and 25 years, while the main attacker, Hamed Badakhshan, died from injuries during arrest.
In November, Iranian authorities nabbed 26 “takfiri terrorists” from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan linked to the strike. “Takfiri” is Iran’s term for radical Sunni jihadists.
Context: From Protests to Terror
This attack came amid nationwide fury over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died after being detained for allegedly breaching Iran’s strict dress code. President Ebrahim Raisi blamed the unrest for fueling “terrorist” actions.
IS first hit Iran in 2017 with deadly strikes on Tehran’s parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum, killing 17.
Rare But Ruthless Executions
Public hangings like these are rare in Iran, where most are carried out behind bars. Amnesty International slams Iran’s execution rate as second only to China’s. The UN recently condemned Tehran’s “chilling” crackdown after seven men were executed linked to Amini protests.
