A court in Iran has handed down death sentences to five protesters, according to state media. The reported findings come within a broader investigation that charged sixteen individuals in connection with the fatal stabbing of a deputy chief of police in Karaj. Among those convicted, five were condemned to the ultimate penalty, while eleven others received imprisonment ranging up to 25 years, with three of the convicted said to have been minors at the time of the alleged offenses.
State media indicated that the verdicts are subject to appeal before Iran’s Supreme Court, which is the country’s highest judicial authority for final review. The appeals process exists within the national legal framework, and the outcomes may hinge on subsequent court considerations and statutory interpretations.
In parallel reporting, the Interior Ministry disclosed that unrest across the country has led to a significant, though variably tallied, number of casualties. Human rights groups have reported higher figures, with estimates of dead protesters reaching into the hundreds. The widening toll highlights the intensity of ongoing demonstrations and the government’s response in different regions.
Within the political leadership, President Ibrahim Raisi indicated openness to revisiting aspects of the Islamic Republic’s constitution, a document originally adopted in 1979. The discussions come after more than two months of nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for allegedly improper dress under the country’s dress code enforcement. Officials have also noted changes in the enforcement approach by the morality police during the period of upheaval, which has fueled public debate about civil liberties, security, and the balance of authority within the state system.