Iran executed two men linked to the opposition on Monday, accusing them of planning armed attacks with homemade weaponry, state media reported.
Execution of Opposition Members
Iran executed two individuals associated with the opposition, accused of attempting a armed attack. The sentences were carried out on Monday, according to the Iranian judicial portal Mizan, as reported by the dpa news agency.
Authorities stated the men were convicted of planning armed attacks using an improvised rocket launcher.
Identification and Allegations
State radio identified the executed men as “elements of a terrorist group of hypocrites,” a reference to the People’s Mujahedin (MEK), according to dpa. The Mizan portal did not disclose when the men were arrested or if they participated in the anti-government protests in January.
The portal stated they participated in “riots and terrorist acts” aimed at overthrowing the government and undermining national security, resulting in several deaths.
Background on the MEK
The MEK opposed the Shah Reza Pahlavi and supported the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s. However, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took power, the organization clashed with the new authorities and was outlawed. It currently operates from abroad.
Until 2012, the European Union and the United States designated the MEK as a terrorist organization.
Increased Repression and Human Rights Concerns
Since the outbreak of conflict beginning February 28th, the Iranian judiciary has been brutally suppressing opposition, dpa noted. Human rights organizations have long criticized Tehran for its use of the death penalty, accusing it of using executions primarily to intimidate the population.
HRANA, a human rights organization, reported that over 2,000 people were executed in the country last year, the highest number in decades.
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