Mohsen Shekari

Their life

Mohsen Shekari (24 February 2000 – 8 December 2022) was a 22-year-old Iranian man executed by the state after being convicted of injuring a Basij militia member during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. He was charged with "moharebeh" (waging war against God), a crime punishable by death under Sharia law. Shekari was accused of blocking a street and using a machete to injure a militiaman, though his family contested the official version, claiming he was trying to protect protesters. His trial was marked by irregularities, and his execution on 8 December 2022 made him the first person to be executed in connection with the protests. The execution sparked global condemnation.

Mohsen Shekari (24 February 2000 – 8 December 2022) was a young Iranian man who became the first confirmed person to be executed in connection with the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests in Iran. Born in 2000, Shekari was 22 years old at the time of his execution. He was a student and a resident of Tehran.

Background and Protest Involvement: Shekari was one of the many protesters who took to the streets in September 2022 to demonstrate against the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died while in police custody, allegedly due to severe mistreatment by the "morality police" for not adhering to Iran’s strict dress code for women. The protests spread rapidly across the country, calling for more freedoms and the end of the regime's oppressive policies.

On 25 September 2022, Shekari was accused by Iranian authorities of blocking Sattar Khan Street in Tehran, a major street in the capital city, and using a machete to non-fatally injure a Basij militia member who was deployed to quell the protests. The militiaman required medical treatment and received 13 stitches for his injuries. According to the Iranian Student News Agency, Shekari's actions were classified as a violent attack on a security force member.

However, Shekari's family denied these allegations. His uncle, Mahmoud Shekari, stated that Mohsen had attempted to use non-violent means, such as removing a guardrail and placing it in the street to separate the protesters from security forces. This claim contradicted the government narrative that Shekari had been involved in a violent assault against a militia member.

Legal Proceedings: Shekari’s trial took place on 1 November 2022, and he was found guilty of “moharebeh,” which translates to “enmity against God,” a charge that carries an automatic death sentence under Sharia law. The prosecution claimed that Shekari had used a weapon to cause terror, disturb public order, and threaten the security of the state. Shekari’s family and human rights organizations raised concerns over the fairness of the trial, particularly noting that he was not allowed legal representation during his appeal.

Despite the lack of representation and the questionable evidence, Iran's Supreme Court upheld the verdict on 20 November 2022. Shekari's defense lawyers were reportedly not allowed to access the case, and the trial was criticized for not meeting international standards for a fair judicial process.

Execution: On 8 December 2022, Mohsen Shekari was executed by hanging in Tehran. His family had been waiting outside the prison for updates on his fate when they were informed that the execution had taken place. Shekari's execution marked a significant moment in the aftermath of the protests, as he was the first person to be executed by the Iranian state for his alleged involvement in the protests. His death was widely condemned by international human rights organizations, who feared that it would set a dangerous precedent for further executions of protesters.

At the time of his death, Shekari was 22 years old. His execution drew immediate attention to the Iranian regime's response to the protests, and many viewed it as an attempt by the government to intimidate and silence those participating in the widespread protests that had erupted across the country.

How they died

executed by hanging

Mohsen Shekari was executed by hanging on 8 December 2022, after being convicted of "moharebeh" (waging war against God) for allegedly injuring a member of the Basij militia during the Mahsa Amini protests. His execution was carried out by the Iranian government as a direct response to his involvement in the protests, marking the first state-sanctioned execution linked to the unrest.

Additional context

accused of Moharebeh, an Arabic word translating to "waging war againstGod".

A plea from the family

After Mohsen Shekari's execution, his uncle publicly criticized the Iranian authorities for denying the family the opportunity to bury his body. He accused the officials of directing the family to two separate cemeteries, neither of which contained Shekari’s remains. His uncle's plea for his body to be returned for a proper burial highlighted the harsh treatment faced by the families of other protesters killed during the Mahsa Amini protests, with several other families making similar complaints regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones' bodies.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Mohsen Shekari, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources