In a recent development from Dubai, Iran has executed Abbas Kourkouri, also known by the alias Mojahed Kourkouri, for the alleged fatal shootings of seven individuals during a 2022 protest ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini.
Human rights organizations, however, assert that Kourkouri was subjected to torture leading to his confession, suggesting that security forces were possibly behind the killings.
This execution marks the first of its kind in nearly a year, related to the protests that ensued after Amini’s death, which stemmed from a dispute over her hijab, or headscarf, not being worn according to police expectations.
These events not only spurred widespread demonstrations but also continue to influence societal actions, with many women openly defying the hijab law by not wearing headscarves in public.
The motivation behind choosing this moment to carry out Kourkouri’s execution remains unclear.
Regionally, tensions have been ascending, exacerbated by Iran’s advancing nuclear endeavors and uncertain diplomatic engagements with the United States.
With Iran maintaining its reputation as a leading executor globally, it has additionally tightened societal controls since the protests occasioned by Amini’s death.
At the time of his trial, Kourkouri lacked access to legal representation of his choosing, according to Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam from Iran Human Rights based in Oslo.
The organization noted an average of one execution every six hours over the last eight months in Iran.
The tragic event involving shootings occurred on November 16, 2022, when armed individuals on motorcycles targeted a group of protesters and security staff at a market in Izeh, located in the contentious Khuzestan province.
Among the seven fatalities was a 9-year-old boy named Kian Pirfalak, whose death sparked public outrage.
His family insisted that government security had fired the rounds causing his death, contrary to the official narrative.
Kourkouri faced multiple accusations, notably “moharebeh,” interpreted as waging war against God in Islamic jurisprudence.
His capture reportedly followed an incident requiring him to be medically treated for a gunshot wound inflicted during his arrest.
The state media positioned Kourkouri as a drug trafficker with extremist inclinations, claims countered by rights advocates who depict him as wrongly portrayed and accuse the government of blaming an innocent participant in the demonstrations.
Amiry-Moghaddam stated that Iranian security forces were the true culprits in the incident, an assertion echoed by Kian’s own family.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, also monitoring from the U.S., contested the Iranian government’s narrative of a terrorist attack, highlighting conflicting eyewitness accounts.
Amnesty International has accused Iranian authorities of utilizing solitary confinement and other coercive techniques to extract confessions from Kourkouri.
Thus, Kourkouri’s execution serves as a potent reminder of Iran’s grim application of capital punishment perceived by Amnesty International as a mechanism to suppress dissent.
The United Nations’ Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran criticized the judicial processes involved in Kourkouri’s case, advocating for a cessation in executions, especially of activists championing women’s rights.
In Iran’s urban landscapes, the legacy of Amini’s death is visibly enduring as increasing numbers of women defy the mandatory hijab, a symbol of their ongoing fight for freedom and autonomy.
While targeted government efforts continue against businesses and public enforcement campaigns maintain pressure on women not complying with hijab laws, the reformist agenda promised by President Masoud Pezeshkian remains challenged.
Despite these progressive gestures, ultimate control lies with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who staunchly condemns any breaches of hijab regulations both religiously and politically.