The UK summoned Iran’s chief diplomat to London to protest Mohsen Shekari’s execution in protest of recent anti-government protests.
After being accused of injuring security guards with a machete, and blocking streets in Tehran, the prisoner was executed Thursday.
State media published a video of Shekari’s confession ahead of execution. In it, he confessed to hitting a Basij militia member with a knife and blocking a road with his motorcycle with one of his friends.
Shekari was seen with a bruised right cheek in the video. Rights groups claim that Shekari was forced to confess after being tortured by his protestor.
UK The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly instructed the FCDO summon Mehdi Hosseini Matin to discuss the “abhorrent execution” by the regime.
Cleverly stated in a statement that Cleverly was a “tragic victim” of a legal system that favored politically motivated trials, disproportionate sentences and forced confessions.
“We have made it clear to the Iranian authorities that Iran must immediately stop executions and cease violence against its people.”
Vijay Rangarajan (director general for the Middle East), spoke out in a meeting with Mr Matin. He said that the UK views the execution as a grosslydisproportionate act designed to intimidate ordinary Iranians, and suppress voices of dissent.
He stated that the UK opposed the death penalty under any circumstances and asked Iran to stop executions and impose death sentences immediately.
Since the murder of 22-year old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini who was taken into custody by morality police on September 16, mass protests have been taking place in Iran.
Many demonstrators were killed, and many others were imprisoned for demanding the removal of Iran’s clerical leaders.
Iran’s government, is accused of blaming unrest on Kurdish separatists and calling it a “political plot” and accusing foreign nations for inciting the demonstrations.