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Demonstration in Istanbul in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranians
Photo Credit: IMAGO/Onur Dogman/ IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
Angry demonstrations have apparently broken out in Iran following the execution of a young man for taking part in anti-government protests.
In the capital Tehran, protesters took to the streets on Friday night and shouted "They took Mohsen away from us and brought his body back," according to a video posted by the online channel 1500tasvir.
The Iranian government, meanwhile, claimed it was reacting with "the utmost restraint to the unrest" in the country.
The Iranian authorities on Thursday executed 23-year-old Mohsen Shekari, who is said to have injured a member of the paramilitary Basij militias during a roadblock in Tehran.
Western governments have harshly criticized the execution of the death sentence.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) accused the leadership in Tehran of "contempt for human beings".
Federal President Steinmeier accuses Tehran of "excessive violence".
The Foreign Office in Berlin summoned the Iranian ambassador.
A spokeswoman for the office declined to provide further details.
The federal government again condemned the execution “in the strongest terms”.
"We are again calling on Iran to abolish the death penalty immediately and not to carry out any further death sentences," said deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann on Friday in Berlin.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the violent crackdown on the protests by the Iranian authorities.
The leadership in Tehran is using "extreme violence" against "innocent" people who are "longing for a future in freedom," Steinmeier said after talks with representatives of the German-Iranian community on Friday in Berlin.
Shekari's body was buried 24 hours after his execution in the presence of some relatives and security forces in Tehran's Behesht-e Sahra cemetery, as reported by the online channel 1500tasvir.
His execution was so hasty that his family was awaiting the outcome of an appeal at the time it was carried out.
Shekari's death sparked angry protests.
Demonstrators gathered on the street where Shekari was arrested.
Elsewhere in Tehran, slogans such as "Death to the dictator" were shouted on Friday night.
New demonstrations were also announced for the weekend.
"Regardless of faith and ideology, we should join the rallies to protest against the brutal execution of Mohsen Shekari," Canadian-Iranian activist Hamed Esmaeilion, who has organized many foreign protests in Berlin and Paris against the leadership in Tehran, demanded. on twitter.
The regime in Tehran, on the other hand, is not aware of any guilt.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has rejected criticism from the West of the actions of the authorities.
Unlike many Western governments, "which violently repress even peaceful demonstrators, Iran has used measured counterinsurgency methods," the State Department said on Thursday evening.
The same applies to court proceedings, these are "just".
However, public safety is "a red line" in the protests, the ministry said.
Tehran accuses the West of 'politically motivated lies'
"Instead of spreading politically motivated lies, the West should stop harboring, supporting and encouraging terrorists," the statement said.
Tehran repeatedly accuses the United States and its Western allies of being behind the nationwide protests in Iran.
The regime also vehemently defended itself against Baerbock's criticism and accused Germany of promoting terrorism.
The fight against terrorism, violence and hate speech are undoubtedly international tasks, Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian wrote on Twitter on Friday.
"It is hypocritical that Germany considers these as red lines for its territory and security, but incites the same ominous phenomena in Iran and falsely denounces our legitimate fight against them."
Great Britain announced on Friday that it would impose tough sanctions on ten officials in Iran's judiciary and penitentiary system because of the "outrageous verdicts" against demonstrators.
The protests were triggered by the death of the young Kurd Jina Mahsa Amini on September 16th.
The 22-year-old died after being arrested by the vice squad because of an allegedly improperly worn headscarf.
Activists accuse the police of abusing the woman.
muk/AFP/dpa