Execution of Juveniles in Iran; "Moharebeh" an Excuse to Eliminate Protesters

The case of Shervin Bagherian is an example of the disturbing trend of death sentences against young protesters in Iran on charges of "moharebeh," a charge that is repeatedly used to eliminate protesters.

According to numerous human rights reports, the process of issuing and executing death sentences against teenagers and young protesters in Iran has taken on worrying dimensions; a process that many observers consider not to be an administration of justice, but rather a tool for repression.

In one recent example, Shervin Bagherian, an 18-year-old from Isfahan, faces the risk of execution on charges of “moharebeh” and participation in the murder of Basij forces. Reports indicate that after being arrested during the protests, he was forced to make confessions under severe pressure and in ambiguous circumstances, the veracity of which is seriously questioned.

According to these reports, this teenager was not only denied access to a lawyer, but even during interrogation, he did not have a clear understanding of the charge of "moharebeh" - a charge that can lead to the death penalty in the Islamic Republic's judicial system.

At the same time, international and human rights organizations have warned of the danger of implementing this verdict, stating that forced confessions and the lack of a fair trial seriously question the legitimacy of these cases.

Wider reports suggest that this case is just one, and that dozens of protesters, especially young people, face the risk of being sentenced to death or executed, raising concerns about the use of the death penalty as a tool of social control.

Meanwhile, Shervin Bagherian's physical and mental condition has also been reported to be worrying, and his family remains unaware of his care and health conditions.

There have also been other reports of a 16-year-old named Ahora Safaei-Rad, who was arrested during the protests and charged with war crimes. Reports about him on social media indicate that he is at risk of execution, but as of the time of writing this report, no confirmed information has been found in reliable sources, although some unofficial reports on various social media indicate that he is at risk of execution.

Numerous evidence and narratives of the Islamic Republic's treatment of protesters and citizens present a disturbing picture of a structural disregard for human life; a process in which even the age and vulnerable status of individuals are not considered an obstacle to imposing the most severe punishments.

From recruiting and dragging children and adolescents to checkpoints and military centers under the guise of "defending the homeland," to attributing charges such as "moharebeh" to minors and issuing heavy sentences, including the death penalty, a series of documented patterns have emerged that have raised serious concerns about widespread human rights violations.

In such a framework, critics and human rights organizations see this trend as a sign of the continuation of policies in which maintaining political security and social control take precedence over the right to life and the principles of fair trial, ultimately leading to the victimization of citizens, including adolescents.