US state department calls for the release of all detained healthcare workers as at least one arrested surgeon reported to be at risk of execution

Doctors are being arrested in Iran for helping save the lives of some of the tens of thousands injured during Iran’s brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests, with at least one surgeon now at risk of being sentenced to death.

The arrests and death sentence are part of a campaign of “revenge”, say human rights groups, after healthcare workers and doctors refused to ignore the plight of badly injured protesters shot or stabbed at close range, and in some cases set up makeshift treatment centres.

An Iranian surgeon, Alireza Golchini, 52, from the central city of Qazvin, has been charged with “moharebeh” (waging war against God), which can carry the death penalty, according to the Norway-based rights group Hengaw. The US state department yesterday called for his release.

  • perestroika@slrpnk.net
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    2 days ago

    A sincere question: are you new to issues related to Iran? Do you not know beforehand what the regime convicts people of, and what the legal system currently looks like?

    A bit of background:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran

    Hadd crimes are considered to be “claims against God”, and they are punishable by a mandatory, fixed sentence that was laid down in the Koran and Hadith. They are very rarely applied in practice, because they require a high standard of proof and if the person is repentant or if there is any reasonable doubt, it may not be carried out. Two witnesses or a confession are required for a conviction. For sexual crimes, 4 witnesses are required.[citation needed]. Others forms of evidence (such as video evidence) are admitted for hadd punishment, except in cases of consensual sexual crimes. They are:

    Waging war against God (moharebeh) and spreading corruption in Earth (mofsede-fel-arz): judge has option of 1) death penalty; 2) crucifixion for three days; 3) amputation of right hand and left foot; 4) exile/imprisonment

    This crime is for somebody who used a weapon to strike fear and spread disorder, for example through armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism/violent armed crimes, rape, and gang violence. This charge has been used in Iran as a political charge/treason/disrupting stability of Islamic Republic, and belonging to anti-regime opposition groups.

    There is nothing new about an opposition supporter risking a death sentence through a “war against God” or “corruption on Earth” accusation.

    Last I heard, a rapper called Tataloo (not sure if imprisoned or executed) was sentenced to death for “corruption on Earth”. But I grew up in the decade when one could read news about Salman Rushdie fleeing abroad since grand ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini simply asked every Muslim to kill him if possible. For publishing poetry. This led to several people actually trying, and Rushie was stabbed last time in 2022. Also see: Satanic Verses controversy.

    I hope this brief introduction of the justice system of Iran helps you assess the realism of various news. My last encounter with their justice system was a few months ago, when I helped raise money to pay blood money for a child bride, who had been sentenced to death for killing her violent husband. The death sentence was avoidable for rich people, but she was poor, so instead of walking free, it was foreseeable that she’d be hanged. So Iranians collected money to save her and succeeded. I’m not an Iranian and I just helped a bit, and my money wasn’t needed in the end. But I kind of know what justice in Iran looks like.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 day ago

      You guys are both correct, btw… The person you replied to is not wrong for having healthy skepticism though.

    • Mrkawfee@feddit.uk
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      1 day ago

      Not sure what this has to do with the regime change psyops campaign?

      How many regimes that America is allies with inflict human rights abuses on their people? Do you know what the Savak did under the Shah?

      Do you know what justice looks like for Palestinians in israel? Which is feted by the West and given weapons to.commit a genocide. Funny how no one is talking about air strikes gainst them