Page 6 - DMEA Week 49 2022

DMEA SECURITY & POLICY DMEA

Iranian government announces first

execution of anti-regime protester

MIDDLE EAST IRAN on December 8 announced the first exe- 450 people, including dozens of minors, have
cution of a protester convicted in relation to the been killed so far in the unrest.
anti-regime unrest seen in the country for the On the same day that Ashtari issued his
past three months. warning, the Guardian reported that medics
Mohsen Shekari was hanged after being across the country believe Iranian security
found guilty by an Islamic Revolutionary forces are targeting women at protests with shot-
Court of “moharebeh” (enmity against God), gun fire to their faces, breasts and genitals.
state media reported. Prosecutors said he was December 8 also brought reports that shop-
a “rioter” who in September obstructed a main keepers in the western Iranian city of Sanandaj,
road in Tehran and wounded a member of the who took part in this week’s three-day eco-
Basij paramilitary force with a machete. nomic strike in support of the protests, clashed
“The international community must imme- with police forces who came to seal their shops
diately and strongly react to this execution,” in response. Hengaw, a Norway-based group
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the that monitors rights violations in Iran’s Kurdish
Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, said regions, said that the shopkeepers defied the
in a statement, describing the trial as a “show move by authorities to keep their businesses
trial without any due process.” He added: “If closed by breaking the seals and reopening. ™
Mohsen Shekari’s execution is not met with seri-
ous consequences for the government, we will
face mass execution of protesters.”
Iran Human Rights said Shekari had been
“denied access to his lawyer throughout the
interrogation phase [and] legal proceedings.”
At least 15,000 people have been arrested
amid the protests, according to some estimates
made by activists. Middle East Eye reported this
week that last year Iran executed more than 500
people, a five-year high.
Also on December 8, Iran’s chief of police
threatened to crack down more decisively on
protesters. In a speech given at the Amin Police
Academy, Hossein Ashtari said security forces
have exercised restraint in dealing with the pro-
testers so far. That is a claim that will jar with
human rights groups, which estimate more than Police chief Hossein Ashtari has threatened a harsher crackdown (Photo: Mehr)

US sanctions Turkish businessman

over oil sale links to Iran’s Quds Force

MIDDLE EAST THE US late on December 8 imposed sanctions as “reversing months of inaction in the face of
on Turkish businessman Sitki Ayan and his net- reams of evidence detailing the Turk’s dealings
work of companies, accusing him of facilitating with the Iranians, including signed contracts
oil sales and money laundering on behalf of the and bank transfers.”
expeditionary Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Rev- It added: “The US’ reluctance to sanction
olutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Ayan, diplomats say, was driven by his close
Politico noted that the announcement of the association with [Turkish President Recep
move against Ayan followed its publication of an Tayyip] Erdogan, a key American ally in the
article on his suspect dealings and could be seen Middle East and beyond.”

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 49 08•December•2022