Iran Executes 3 Over Protest Killings

0:00On March 19, Iran has executed three men accused of killing two police officers during anti-government protests last year. The public hangings took place Thursday in the city of Kwam, marking the first official executions tied to those demonstrations. The men faced charges of waging war against God, a capital offense under Iranian law. Among them was 19-year-old champion wrestler, Saleh Muhammadi, sentenced to death just weeks after his arrest in February. The other two, Medi Gassimi and Saleh Davoudi, were also convicted in connection with the same killings on January 8. Human rights groups have strongly condemned the move, calling the trials unfair and based on forced confessions. They argue the executions amount to extrajudicial killings aimed at silencing dissent through fear. The protests began in late December, over rising living costs, then spread into widespread unrest against the regime, peaking around January 8 and 9th. Authorities responded with a harsh crackdown, labeling the events as foreign-backed riots.

1:04Reports on the death toll vary widely, with Iranian officials citing over 3,000 deaths from what they call terrorist acts while activists, estimated more than 7,000. This latest development underscores the ongoing tensions in the country.