The UK called Iran’s plan to execute former defense official Alireza Akbari ‘politically motivated’ and demanded his immediate release.
Iran’s Supreme Court has sentenced to death a British citizen of Iranian descent on charges of spying for the UK.
Alireza Akbari was sentenced to death for “corruption on Earth and harming the internal and external security of the country by providing intelligence”, Iran’s judicial news agency Mizan Online reported on Wednesday.
The former defense ministry official was described by Iran’s intelligence ministry as “one of the most important infiltrators of the country’s strategic and sensitive centers”.
Citing a statement from the intelligence ministry, Mizan said Akbari became a “key spy” for the UK’s “secret intelligence agency” – MI6 – because of the “importance of his position.” .
On February 2, 2019, the official Iranian government newspaper published an interview with Akbari, who it identified as the “former deputy defense minister in the reform government” of Mohammad Khatami, who served as president of Iran from 1997 to 2005.
‘Barbarian mode’
The UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, called the execution plan “politically motivated” and demanded Akbari’s immediate release.
“This is a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime that completely disregards human life,” Cleverly wrote on Twitter.
Iran must stop the execution of Anglo-Iranian Alireza Akbari and release him immediately.
This is a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime that completely disregards human life.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) January 11, 2023
“We are supporting Mr Akbari’s family and have repeatedly raised his case with the Iranian authorities,” a British foreign office spokesman said in a statement. “Our priority is to secure his immediate release and we have reiterated our request for urgent consular access.”
Iran has been rocked by Demonstration caused by the September 16 death of Mahsa Aminia 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, after she was arrested for violating the Iranian women’s dress code.
Eighteen people have so far been reported sentenced to death related to the protests. Of those, four were executed, sparking a worldwide outcry, following expedited trials that the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) said did not meet maximum guarantees. minimum of a fair trial.
‘State-sanctioned murder’
Iran is “weaponizing” the death penalty, trying to suppress dissent by scaring the public with executions of protesters, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The OHCHR said: “Criminal proceedings and the death penalty are being used by the Iranian government to punish individuals who participate in demonstrations and instill fear in the population in order to quell dissent. violate international human rights law”.
“Weaponizing criminal procedures to punish those exercising their basic rights – such as those who participate or organize protests – is tantamount to state-sanctioned murder.” Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.
OHCHR spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the UN opposes the use of the death penalty in all cases.
“In these cases, however, what we see is a lack of due process; she said at a press conference.
“These are accusations of corruption on Earth and waging war against God, very vaguely worded.”
She said there were also serious allegations of torture, ill-treatment and humiliation before the execution.
“In such cases, these executions are tantamount to arbitrary deprivation of life,” Shamdasani said.
