An Iranian court has sentenced six men to death for the killing of Arman Aliverdi, a 21-year-old member of the Basij volunteer militia, who succumbed to injuries after being stabbed during widespread protests in Tehran in November 2022. This verdict, reported by the Fars News Agency, adds to the escalating legal repercussions following a turbulent period of demonstrations and violence, ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman detained by Iran’s morality police in September 2022.
The ruling has drawn attention both domestically and internationally, raising critical questions about Iran’s judicial responses to political dissent, the controversial use of capital punishment, and the broader implications for Iranian society as it grapples with a renewed focus on human rights, political freedoms, and the role of security forces.
The incident surrounding Aliverdi’s death occurred in Ekbatan, a district of Tehran, during one of the many protests that erupted in response to Amini’s death. Aliverdi, a young volunteer with the Basij militia – a paramilitary organization closely associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – was attacked and sustained fatal injuries during an altercation with protesters. The Tehran judiciary swiftly took action in his case, seeking to impose the severe “retribution” penalty in line with Iran’s legal provisions for violent crimes, particularly when security forces or government personnel are victims.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, was detained by Iran’s notorious morality police in September 2022 for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women, which requires them to wear the hijab and dress modestly in public. Her death in custody triggered nationwide and then international protests, with millions taking to the streets and social media to express their outrage and call for an end to compulsory hijab laws and for greater freedoms, especially for women.
The protests, often led by young Iranians and women, swiftly evolved into one of the most significant displays of dissent seen in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As these demonstrations intensified, clashes between protestors and security forces became more frequent, leading to widespread violence and casualties. Iranian authorities responded with stringent measures, deploying the Basij and other security forces to contain and suppress the protests. In the months that followed, hundreds of people, including both civilians and members of the security forces, lost their lives.
Following Aliverdi’s death, the Iranian judiciary moved rapidly to address cases involving violence against its security forces, especially the Basij, who play a pivotal role in maintaining internal security. The Fars News Agency reported that the primary sentence of “retribution” – a concept in Iranian law akin to the principle of “an eye for an eye” – was delivered to six defendants involved in Aliverdi’s killing.
The case was handled by Tehran’s 13th criminal court, which found the defendants guilty of causing the death of Aliverdi under circumstances viewed as particularly severe due to his status as a Basij member. The sentencing, which aligns with Iran’s application of capital punishment in cases of violence against state representatives, allows for an appeal, as confirmed by Babak Paknia, the lawyer representing one of the defendants.
Paknia, a well-known human rights attorney, expressed concerns over procedural fairness, hinting at potential issues in the judicial process, particularly given the high stakes and intense media scrutiny surrounding cases involving political protests and security personnel in Iran. However, the court maintained that the sentences were in line with Iran’s retributive justice system.
The judiciary’s handling of cases related to the 2022 protests has sparked significant controversy, both domestically and internationally. Iranian authorities have accused the defendants of violent crimes against state representatives, framing the charges as part of a broader crackdown on those they allege have disrupted public order. Meanwhile, human rights organizations and activists have raised alarms over what they describe as excessively harsh penalties and a lack of transparency in judicial proceedings.
Iran’s use of the death penalty has consistently drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. According to Amnesty, Iran ranks second globally in its application of capital punishment, surpassed only by China. In recent years, the organization has accused Tehran of misusing the death penalty as a tool to suppress political dissent and discourage protests.
The recent sentencing of the six men and the reported execution in August of Gholamreza Rasaei, another protester found guilty of killing an IRGC officer, have drawn fresh condemnation from human rights advocates. Amnesty International issued a statement after Rasaei’s execution, describing it as a “travesty of justice” and calling on Iran to cease executions linked to protest-related charges. According to these organizations, trials of protestors often lack basic safeguards, such as fair representation, transparent evidence, and adequate defense opportunities, leading to widespread concerns about the legitimacy of the verdicts.
Iranian authorities have escalated the use of capital punishment in response to the unrest, arguing that swift and severe measures are necessary to maintain order. Since the onset of the 2022 protests, the Iranian judiciary has sentenced numerous individuals to death on charges related to violence against security forces, with at least 10 executions carried out thus far. These executions, authorities contend, are intended to serve as a deterrent, discouraging further violence and signaling that attacks on state personnel will be met with the harshest penalties.
Human rights groups and several Western governments have condemned these executions, viewing them as part of a systematic attempt to stifle dissent. International calls have grown louder for Iran to reconsider its stance on capital punishment, with many activists advocating for dialogue, reform, and amnesty rather than punitive measures.
The crackdown on protestors and the issuance of death sentences have led to further polarization within Iranian society. While a segment of the population supports strict measures against those who engage in violence, a growing number of Iranians – particularly among the youth – express frustration and disillusionment with the state’s response to dissent.
The case of the six men sentenced for Aliverdi’s death has become a focal point of public debate, encapsulating the broader challenges of law enforcement, human rights, and the limits of permissible protest. Social media platforms, such as X (formerly Twitter), have seen an outpouring of reactions, with many Iranians calling for the judiciary to show restraint and consider alternative forms of justice, especially in cases tied to protests where emotions are heightened, and underlying grievances remain unaddressed.
Some analysts suggest that the extensive use of punitive measures, including capital punishment, risks deepening the rift between the government and segments of the public, potentially leading to future instability. They argue that addressing the root causes of the protests – which include economic hardship, demands for political freedoms, and calls for social reform – would be a more effective means of achieving long-term stability.
