IRAN: Iran executed two men in connection with an attack on a Shi’ite shrine in Shiraz that resulted in 13 deaths in October. The men, who confessed during their trial, stated that they had been in communication with the Islamic State in Afghanistan and assisted in planning the attack. The executions took place in the southern city of Shiraz.
During the attack, a Tajik national gunman entered a well-known shrine in Iran, carrying an assault weapon concealed in a backpack. The assault claimed the lives of 13 people, slightly lower than the initial estimate of 15. The incident was attributed to the Islamic State, a group that has posed security threats in the Middle East. The gunman succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
The two men in Iran who participated in the violent assault on the Shia shrine in Shiraz last year are scheduled to be hanged. Chief Justice Kazem Mousavi announced the public executions as a display of strength, amid the ongoing revolution challenging the regime’s control. The men were found guilty of supporting corruption, engaging in armed rebellion, and committing acts against national security.
On October 26, Chief Justice Mousavi claimed direct involvement in the “arming, procurement, logistics, and guidance” of the main perpetrator of the terrorist attack at the Shah Cheragh tomb. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State, resulted in the death of over a dozen individuals and left 30 others injured.
CCTV footage revealed the assailant approaching the shrine, concealing an assault rifle, and opening fire. Additionally, three other individuals involved in the incident were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 5 to 25 years. Chief Justice Mousavi also mentioned that several other “Daesh (Islamic State) suspects linked to this case” are currently being prosecuted.
Iran ranks second only to China in terms of the annual number of executions. According to IHR, a Norwegian organization promoting human rights, at least 270 individuals have been executed in Iran since 2023.
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