Iran on Wednesday executed Abbas Kurkuri, a man convicted of killing seven people during the nationwide protests that erupted in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. The judiciary announced the hanging was carried out after the Supreme Court upheld the sentence initially issued by the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province.
Kurkuri was found guilty of opening fire in the city of Izeh during a protest, killing seven people, including 10-year-old Kian Pirfalak. The court described the act as a “terrorist attack” and convicted him of the capital offences of “corruption on earth” and “moharebeh” which translates to “waging war against God,” charges commonly used in politically sensitive cases in Iran.
According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online news service, Kurkuri admitted during trial that he carried out the shooting while under the influence of social media. The report also portrayed him as a “notorious offender” with a history of violent behavior, including armed assaults, property destruction, and drug and alcohol trafficking.
The 2022 protests began after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman who was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict Islamic dress code. Her death in custody sparked one of the largest waves of unrest in Iran in decades, leading to widespread demonstrations that were met with a severe government crackdown. Hundreds were killed and thousands arrested, including protesters, activists, and journalists.
Iran has since carried out multiple executions of individuals linked to the protests. Kurkuri’s execution follows the hanging of nine men just a day earlier, who were convicted of plotting attacks on behalf of the Islamic State group in 2018.
Iran remains one of the world’s top executioners, second only to China, according to international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International. Rights groups have repeatedly criticized Iran for its use of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving political dissent and mass protests. They warn that such executions are intended to instill fear and suppress public unrest in the country.
