First woman faces execution linked to recent protests in Iran as rights groups urge global intervention.

The woman, identified as Bita Hemmati, was accused by the state of multiple offences, including involvement in violent protest activities, possession of weapons, and actions deemed harmful to national security. The charges stem from demonstrations that began in January and were met with a strong response from security forces.

According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, several others linked to the case have also received harsh sentences. Hemmati’s husband, Mohammadreza Majid Asl, along with two other men, were handed death penalties following what critics describe as expedited legal proceedings. Another relative was sentenced to nearly six years in prison on charges related to national security and alleged propaganda.

Iranian authorities have claimed that the group was involved in activities linked to hostile foreign entities, including the United States, an allegation frequently used in cases tied to political unrest.

All individuals were reportedly arrested in Tehran, which has been a focal point of the recent protests. No official date for the execution has been announced so far.

Human rights organisations and opposition groups have raised concerns over the sentences, urging international bodies, including the United Nations, to intervene and prevent executions, particularly of those detained during the protests.

The demonstrations themselves were triggered by a series of local strikes by traders and shopkeepers in Tehran late last year, before expanding into wider anti-government protests across the country.

Source: New York Post