Three people sentenced to death in Iran have their sentences commuted to jail

The death sentence for three protesters, who were accused of setting fire to public property during the gas hike protests in Iran in November 2019, and sentenced to death by the court, was commuted to 5 years in prison.

In a message shared on his Twitter account, the lawyer of one of the defendants, Babek Paknia, announced that the defendants Emir Hüseyin Muradi, Said Temcidi and Muhammed Recebi were sentenced to 5 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court in the capital, Tehran, TRT Haber reports.

Paknia stated that the decision is open to appeal and that the defendants can be released on parole.

November 2019 protests in Iran

In Iran, which had a difficult time economically with the effect of US sanctions, in November 2019, protests were held in the country after the 200 per cent increase in gasoline price with the decision of the Supreme Council of Economic Coordination, consisting of the President of the Judiciary, the Speaker of the Parliament and the President.

Public buildings, banks, gas stations were destroyed and markets were looted during the demonstrations that lasted for about a week in many cities of Iran.

The Tehran administration described the protesters as "defectors supported by foreign powers" and harshly intervened against the demonstrators.

Amnesty International reported that at least 304 people died during the demonstrations. The Iranian authorities, who made the first official statement on the number of those who lost their lives 7 months later, reported that 230 people died, including 6 security guards.

Three young people who participated in the demonstrations were sentenced to death in 2020, accused of setting fire to public property. The "Don't Execute" tag launched by Iranian activists on social media to abolish the death penalty for 3 young people received worldwide support.

The then US President Donald Trump, in his message shared in English and Persian on Twitter in July 2020, said, "The execution of these three people will send a terrible signal to the world, this should not happen!" had used the words.

Iran's Supreme Court announced on December 5, 2020, that the request for the retrial of three protesters sentenced to death by the court had been accepted.