Two men have been hanged in Iran for allegedly killing a paramilitary volunteer during protests.
Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed in the early hours of Saturday, days after the country’s Supreme Court confirmed their sentences for “corruption on Earth”, according to the official news outlet of the judiciary.
Karami and Hosseini were accused of killing Ruhollah Ajamian on November 3 when a large protests took place in the city of Karaj near Tehran.
Videos circulating on social media on the day showed a main highway closed off by crowds and Ajamian, wearing a Basij uniform, lying motionless on the ground.
According to the judiciary, 16 people were arrested in connection with his death, while Karami and Hosseini were the main suspects.
The judiciary showed clips from their court sessions, where Karami said he struck Ajamian with a rock and Hosseini told a judge he stabbed him with a knife several times.
The judiciary outlet also released clips that it said showed the two men during the act, and showed an image of Hosseini who was sitting with his hands tied behind his back and had several types of knives in front of him that he allegedly owned.
Human rights, groups however, have called the trial a sham for violated basic and fundamental guarantees for a fair trial.
Saturday’s hangings bring the total executions over the protests to four. The latest executions come amid allegations that the confessions were forced.
Protest were sparked across the country following the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old died after being detained by the morality police for not wearing her hijab correctly.
According to the foreign-based Human Rights Activists’ News Agency (HRANA), at least 516 protesters have been killed amid the unrest in the country – 70 of whom were children.
