Two Men Sentenced to Death in Iran Over Quran Burning
Iran’s judiciary has handed down death sentences to two men accused of “burning the Quran” and “insulting the Prophet of Islam” back in 2021, the Mizan news agency reports. The Arak Criminal Court convicted the pair, who also received six-year prison terms for “running groups to act against national security.”
Human Rights Groups Slam ‘Medieval’ Verdict
Human rights activists have blasted the harsh verdict, branding it “a cruel act by a medieval regime.” Concerns over the fairness of the trial are mounting, with reports that the two were held in solitary confinement for two months and denied access to legal counsel.
While Iran has seen a surge in executions amid ongoing anti-government unrest, death sentences for blasphemy remain rare.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Norway-based Iran Human Rights, said: “The execution of Yousef and Sadrollah for ‘insulting the Prophet’ is not only a cruel act by a medieval regime, it is also a serious insult to the freedom of expression. Lack of a strong reaction by the international community sends a green light to the Islamic Republic and their ideological allies worldwide.”
Rising Executions Amid Nationwide Protests
Iran faces mounting international criticism for its staggering execution rate — second only to China. Over 200 people have been executed since January, with total executions soaring by 75% to 582 last year, Iran Human Rights reveals.
The spike is linked to heavy-handed crackdowns on nationwide protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody last September.
EU Condemns Execution of Swedish-Iranian Dual National
Adding to tensions, the EU has condemned the recent execution of Habib Chaab, a Swedish-Iranian dual national accused of masterminding a deadly 2018 attack on a military parade.
The EU “condemns the execution of Habib Chaab in the strongest terms,” highlighting growing alarm over Iran’s use of capital punishment.
