Stay of execution for Iran protester on death row — lawyer

TEHRAN — A young Iranian who had been sentenced to death for his actions during protests over the death of Mahsa Amini has been given a stay of execution, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Mahan Sadrat was one of nearly a dozen Iranians sentenced to death after being convicted of capital offences during the nationwide protests that erupted in mid-September.

“My client, Mahan, was saved from execution,” lawyer Abbas Mousavi announced in an Instagram post.

Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency quoted a statement from the supreme court media office as saying the death sentence against Sadrat had been “suspended”.

Sadrat, who is in his early 20s, had been found guilty of “moharebeh” — or “enmity against God” — an Islamic sharia law offence that carries the death penalty in Iran.

His conviction was based on allegations he had drawn a knife, causing fear and insecurity, Iran’s official IRNA news agency said.

At his court hearing on November 3, Sadrat pleaded not guilty to the knife charge, but admitted to setting a motorbike on fire, according to court documents cited by IRNA.

Iran has been gripped by demonstrations since the September 16 death in custody of Amini, a young Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.

Authorities have since made thousands of arrests in a crackdown on what they regard as “riots”.

Iran’s judiciary has said it has handed down 11 death sentences in connection with the protests.

In the past week, it has hanged Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both 23, the latter in public rather than in prison as has been usual in Iran in recent years.

Campaigners say a dozen other defendants face charges that could see them also receive the death penalty.