US Condemns New Iran Protester Executions in 'Strongest Terms'

Iran

January 8th, 5:38am

Asharq Al-Awsat

The seal of the United States Department of State is seen in Washington, US, January 26, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

The US State Department on Saturday condemned "in the strongest terms" what it said were the "sham trials & execution" of two men in Iran for killing a paramilitary force member during protests sparked by a young woman's death in custody. "These executions are a key component of the regime's effort to suppress protests. We continue to work with partners to pursue accountability for Iran's brutal crackdown," State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter. The latest hangings double the number of executions to four over the nationwide unrest, which has escalated since mid-September into calls for an end to Iran's clerical regime. Iranian authorities have arrested thousands in their crackdown on the wave of demonstrations that began after the September 16 death of Iranian Kurdish woman Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly breaching Iran's dress code for women.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4086356/us-condemns-new-iran-protester-executions-strongest-terms