The execution of two Iranian protesters Mohammed Mehdi Karami (21) and Mohammad Hosseini (20) over the weekend has caused strong reactions in large parts of the world.
Norwegian UD condemns Executions in Iran at most. The EU is shocked and describes it as another example of the Iranian authorities’ brutal repression of their own population and The United Nations deeply regrets what happened.
– The regime probably doesn’t care, says researcher Kjetil Selvik of the Norwegian Foreign Policy Institute to VG.
Karami and Hosseini were hanged on Saturday morning, he writes Reuters. Thus, a total of four people were executed by the Iranian authorities after being accused of having participated in the protests that have rocked the country in recent months.
The two protesters were sentenced to death for allegedly killing a member of the country’s security forces during the protests. Last December, two 23-year-old youths were executed for violence against the police. Protests have erupted in the wake of the deaths of Kurdish-Iranians Name Mahsa Amini September 16th.
Mixed signals
Executions serve two functions, says NUPI researcher Selvik.
– They are supposed to spread fear among people protesting against the regime, but executions are also a message to their supporters that the regime takes their safety seriously:
The killing of the security forces and the police, of which the two protesters are accused, is punishable by death.
He believes the regime is now sending mixed signals.
– On the one hand, they release the prisoners, which may indicate a more conciliatory line, at the same time they continue to execute the prisoners.
There are two ways to read these signals, says the NUPI researcher:
– One explanation is that there may be internal disagreement between those who want to take a hard line and those who believe that the hard line only creates new conflicts and more resistance and would prefer to seek reconciliation, stresses the researcher of the peace research group, i conflicts and development.
The other possible interpretation is that the regime does not have a good solution on how to get out of the situation and is trying to get out of it. Free some, execute two, but not all.
Immune to criticism
At the same time, Iran’s international standing has significantly declined since the protests began on September 16 last year. But Iran has no intention of giving in to protesters’ demands for fundamental regime change, Selvik believes.
– This weekend’s executions are just to find a way through the situation.
The UN apologizes, the EU is shocked, the Farnesina condemns the executions and abuses of the regime. But does it help?
– For 40 years, the Iranian regime has been at odds with Western countries in particular and has built up a remarkable immunity to criticism. They have no ambition to please Western politicians, the conflict researcher believes.
However, loss of reputation comes at a cost.
– Makes Iran’s diplomatic processes more difficult. They have been expelled from the UN Council for Women’s Rights, it will be more difficult to convince European countries to join the nuclear deal.
Dangerous fear
The protests and riots of the autumn also changed the fear barrier in the country. Many citizens dare much more now than before the start of the demonstration.
– For an authoritarian regime, at a certain point the barrier of fear must be reintroduced. Now they are trying to execute people, says Selvik, who believes many will be frightened and that families will likely put more pressure on their daughters and sons to be more careful.
– At the same time, executions may generate more anger, which could trigger new protests.
Several sentenced to death
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock writes on twitter that Karami and Hosseini are more than just two names.
– They were hanged because they did not submit to the brutal and inhumane actions of the regime. Their cruel fate makes it important for us to exert further pressure on the regime in Iran through the EU, writes the foreign minister.
The AP news agency reports that at least 16 activists were sentenced to death in closed hearings after the protests erupted. The most common practice in Iran is for death sentences to be carried out by hanging.
On Friday it became known that a journalist was arrested who interviewed the families of several Iranians sentenced to death for participating in demonstrations in the country, according to the Etemad newspaper.
