Iran Executes Reza Rasaei During Morning Call to Prayer

Aug 6, 2024, 03:22 PM

Reza Rasaei, a 34-year-old Iranian, was executed on Tuesday morning by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Rasaei was arrested during the 2022 protests in Sahneh, Kermanshah, and was accused of killing a member of the Revolutionary Guards on November 18, 2022. His death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. The execution, which took place during the morning call to prayer, marks the first known protest-related execution since a relatively moderate president took office. Rasaei was a Kurdish Iranian and a political prisoner who protested for freedom, democracy, and dignity following the death of Mahsa Amini. The execution has drawn widespread condemnation, with many viewing it as part of the regime's broader crackdown on dissent. Rasaei was also recognized as a patriot with Kurdish heritage.