THERE is little doubt that the Iranian establishment has been severely shaken by the countrywide protests that erupted after the suspicious death in custody of Mahsa Amini last September. While earlier protest movements had called for reform of the system, a significant number of demonstrators this time around called for the downfall of the Islamic Republic. The regime has weathered the storm, but now the Iranian state is cracking down on those it feels played a key role in instigating the protests. Particularly disturbing is the fact that Tehran has begun to execute individuals involved in the demonstrations. At least four people have been executed in this regard, while several more, including teenagers, are on death row. The UN’s Human Rights Office has condemned Tehran’s use of the death penalty against protesters as “state-sanctioned killings”, while it also said Iran was “weaponising the death penalty” to stamp out dissent.

While the Iranian state says it has a duty to restore order, and several hundred people, including security men, have been killed in the protests, the wholesale executions of those who simply expressed their disapproval of the government in Tehran cannot be condoned. If anything, cracking down on all opposition in such a violent manner will only deepen the chasm between state and society. There were many triggers for last year’s mass demonstrations, apart from the death of Ms Amini. These included punishing economic conditions, made worse by Western sanctions, as well as enforcement of Iran’s strict laws, particularly those governing women. Tehran says its foreign enemies have played a key role in fanning the protests. While that might be true, executing its own citizens will do little to bring stability to the country. As the UN human rights body noted, Iran needs to listen to its people’s grievances and ensure respect for freedom of expression and assembly. That would be a much better option than crushing all those who disagree with the state.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2023