Mohammad Boroughani (Persian: محمد بروغنی; born 29 March 2003) is an Iranian man facing a death sentence for his participation in the Mahsa Amini protests. He was found guilty of Moharebeh, which translates to "Waging War Against God," and was sentenced to death.[1][2][3] Boroughani and another death-row inmate, Mohammad Ghobadloo, have emerged as new faces of outrage in Iran in response to the political executions of Mahsa Amini protestors. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Karaj's Rajayi-shahr Prison on January 9, 2023, when word spread that Boroughani and Ghobadloo had been sent to solitary confinement before of their scheduled execution.[4][5][6][7][8] Boroughani's execution was temporarily halted two days later.[9][10] Boroughani's trial on October 29, 2022, was also notable because it was the first trial directly linked to the Mahsa Amini protests, which drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and the international community.[3][11]
Mohammad Boroughani | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 29, 2003 |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Known for | Death sentence related to the Mahsa Amini protests |
| Criminal charge | Moharebeh ("Waging War Against God") |
| Penalty | Death |
Arrest and allegations by Iranian officials
editIn late September or early October 2022, Boroughani was one of the protesters detained by Iranian officials during the Pakdasht demonstrations.[12] Iranian officials accused him of deliberately setting fire to the Pakdasht governor's office. He was charged with Moharebeh, which translates to "Waging War Against God," because he allegedly brandished a machete while leading a mob in an assault on the Pakdasht governor's office, set fire to the building, and attacked and injured a government official.[12][11] Officials have also accused him, based on the content of his postings on social media, of inciting the participation of his fellow citizens in the protests.[12][11]
Trial, appeals, and criticism
editThe court hearing for Boroughani took place on 29 October 2022, in Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Court, with Judge Abolqasem Salavati presiding over the proceedings. According to Sharia law, he was judged guilty of the crime of Moharebeh, which carries the death penalty. The court did not let Boroughani choose his own attorney to represent him.[12][11] (The Inquisitorial system in Iran is in accordance with Islamic law.) Boroughani was tried in a court along with five other protestors who were all charged with crimes punishable by death, most notably Moharebeh ("Waging War Against God") and Mofsed-e-filarz ("Corruption on Earth").[13][12][11] Judge Salavati had the ability to impose a lesser punishment, which may have included deportation of the defendant, but he chose not to do so.[14]
Judge Salavati faces U.S. sanctions for meting out harsh punishments. In a statement, the United States Department of the Treasury criticized Salavati for handing down more than one hundred death sentences and lengthy prison sentences to political prisoners, human rights activists, media workers, and "others seeking to exercise their freedom of assembly".[15]
Boroughani filed an appeal against the decision, and on 11 December 2022, the Supreme Court of Iran affirmed the verdict, despite the fact that Boroughani was not represented by his lawyer at the time of the appeal.[16]
Responses
editIranian citizens
editSeveral activists, lawyers, and Iranian citizens have condemned Boroughani's death sentence on social media.[17] Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Rajayi-shahr Prison in Karaj on January 9, 2023, when word circulated that Boroughani and another death-row prisoner, Mohammad Ghobadloo, had been transferred to solitary confinement ahead of their scheduled execution.[4][5][6] Boroughani's execution was temporarily halted two days later.[9]
Activists and human rights organizations
editAmnesty International called on Iranian officials to "stop using the death penalty as a tool of political repression against protesters in their desperate attempt to end the popular uprising."[18] On 14 December 2022, Amnesty warned that Boroughani's execution might be imminent, noting that he "[had] been moved to Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, Alborz province, sparking fears that his execution may be imminent".[19][17]
International officials
editMartin Diedenhofen, a member of the German parliament, announced on 9 December 2022, that he would take "political sponsorship" of Boroughani.[20][21] Political patronage or sponsorship in Germany is a mechanism that allows members of parliament to pick a particular political prisoner for the purpose of using their political influence to advocate for the prisoner's release.[21] Generally speaking, this is accomplished through addressing the ambassador as well as the appropriate governmental and international agencies that are concerned with human rights.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "I wish this was all a dream; Mohammad Boroughani on death row - Iran HRM". 11 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Iran: Death Sentences Against Protesters". Human Rights Watch. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Death decrees handed down for 4 protesters". 18 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Iran protests: Crowd gathers outside prison in bid to stop executions". BBC News. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b Motamedi, Maziar. "Iranians protest in front of Karaj prison as more executions loom". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Protesters rally outside Iranian prison". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ "Iran Protests: Large Demonstrations Kick Off As Anger Grows Over Executions And Ukrainian Plane Crash - WorldNewsEra". 10 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "گزارشها درباره قریبالوقوع بودن اجرای حکم اعدام محمد قبادلو و محمد بروغنی". رادیو فردا (in Persian). 9 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Execution of Iranian protester suspended for retrial". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ ""The Supreme Court of Iran announced the suspension of the death sentence of Mohammad Broghni until the result of the court's retrial"". ایران اینترنشنال (in Persian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "گزارش نخستین جلسه دادگاه دستگیرشدگان ناآرامیهای اخیر در تهران". ایسنا (in Persian). 29 October 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "دادگاه اغتشاشگران تهران برگزار شد؛ لیدر اغتشاشات پاکدشت که بود؟ + فیلم- اخبار حقوقی و قضایی - اخبار اجتماعی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Iran: Horrifying execution of young protester exposes authorities' cruelty and risk of further bloodshed". Amnesty International. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "ستون آخر این جدول را پر نکنید؛ چه کسانی با حکم اعدام مواجه هستند؟+ اسامی". اعتمادآنلاین (in Persian). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Iran executes first known prisoner arrested in protests". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "برخی گزارشهای رسیده حاکی است حکم اعدام محمد بروغنی، معترض زندانی، در دیوان عالی کشور تایید شده است". Twitter. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b "ابراز نگرانی از خطر "اجرای قریب الوقوع حکم" اعدام محمد بروغنی". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Iran: Public execution of Majidreza Rahnavard exposes authorities' revenge killings". Amnesty International. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Young Iranian protester #MohammadBoroughani has been moved to Raja'i Shahr prison in Karaj, Alborz Province, sparking fears that his execution may be imminent. He was sentenced to death for "enmity against God" in a sham trial". Twitter. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Das ist #MohammedBoroghani. Er hat im #Iran für die Freiheit demonstriert und wurde dafür zum Tode verurteilt. Ihm droht unmittelbar die Hinrichtung. Ich appelliere an die Bundesregierung und den iranischen Botschafter, sich für seine Freilassung einzusetzen". Twitter. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "German MPs Sponsor Iranian Protesters In Danger Of Execution". Iran International. Retrieved 15 December 2022.