‘Silence is not the answer’: Iranian-Canadians horrified by first-known execution | 24CA News
The Islamic Republic has performed its first recognized execution in connection to the anti-regime protests which have rocked the nation for the reason that dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
23-year-old Mohsen Shekari was reportedly hanged to dying, discovered responsible by a revolutionary court docket of “waging war against God.”
According to Mizan news company, which is run by the regime’s judiciary, Shekari was accused of blocking a road and wounding a member of the pro-regime Basij militia on September 25.
Rights group, corresponding to Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights, say Shekari was tortured and compelled to admit with a sham trial with none due course of.
Iranian-Canadians are horrified in regards to the news Thursday, fearful about their family nonetheless in Iran.
Amir Bahejekian, an Iranian-Canadian activist, has a cousin in Tehran named Semiramis Babaei. He realized just lately the award-winning writer, journalist, translator and playwright was arrested at her residence.
She is now being held on the infamous Evin Prison.
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“The helplessness that’s the worst part,” Bahejekian informed Global News. “I’m here 15,000 kilometres away trying to advocate for a cousin.”
He is fearful Babaei and others will meet the identical destiny as Shekari if there’s not sufficient worldwide strain on Iran.
According to the Centre for Human Rights within the nation, 11 different protestors have now been sentenced to dying and 28 others, together with kids, are dealing with costs which might be punishable by dying.
“They do it because they can and they can get away with it,” Bahejekian added. “They never paid a price for it. The world should show that there is a price to be paid for this.”
Iranian-Canadian human rights advocate Nazanin Afshin-Jam, who based Stop Child Executions, mentioned the western world must take motion now and transcend condemnation.
“It’s (a) calculated move on behalf of the Islamic Republic to send fear onto the population,” she mentioned.
“If the international community doesn’t respond with strong action it’s basically giving licence to (the) regime to continue with their execution spree.”
Activists are involved that extra silence will solely imply extra households will find yourself like Shekari’s household.
“It’s horrifying but at the end of the day silence is not the answer because four decades of looking the other way is what brought us to this day,” Bahejekian mentioned.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
