Iran on Saturday executed a man convicted of leading a human trafficking and prostitution ring, a day after three men linked to protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini were executed, the judiciary said. "After the Supreme Court confirmed the conviction of Shahrouz Sokhanvari, alias Alex, he was hanged this morning," Mizan Online reported.
Sokhanvari was convicted of "corruption on earth" for "establishing and managing a vast prostitution ring internationally, which attracts Iranian and foreign girls," Mizan added.
Three men hanged
The convict had left Iran in 1983, to live in countries such as India, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and the United States before being arrested by Iranian agents abroad and brought back to Iran in 2020, according to the same source. No details were provided on the process that led to his arrest.
Sokhanvari's execution comes a day after three men convicted of "moharebeh" (war against God) were hanged for their involvement in the November 16 deaths in the central city of Isfahan of three members of the security forces during protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Friday's executions were denounced in the West and criticized by human rights groups based outside Iran.
Iran has been the scene of waves of protests following the death on 16 September of Mahsa Amini, 22, an Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for violating the Islamic Republic's dress code.
Iran has executed more than 220 people since the beginning of the year, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR). The country executes more people each year than any other country except China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International. At least 582 people were executed in Iran last year, according to Iran Human Rights and another Paris-based organization, Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).