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Iran carries out first execution over protests

Iran has announced it has carried out the first execution over recent anti-government protests.

Mohsen Shekari was hanged on Thursday morning after being found guilty by a Revolutionary Court of "moharebeh" (enmity against God), state media said.

He was accused of being a "rioter" who blocked a main road in Tehran in September and wounded a member of the Basiji, a volunteer paramilitary force often deployed to quell protests.

The judiciary has so far announced that 10 other people have been sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts on the similar charges in connection with the protests. The defendants' identities have not been disclosed.

"This is a continuation of a playbook the regime has every time it faces a challenge," says Hadi聽Ghaemi, executive director聽of聽the聽Centre聽for聽Human聽Rights聽in聽Iran. "It is going to use this execution to launch a campaign of fear and intimidation."

(Photo: Mohsen Shekari)

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