Iran Sentences 21-Year-Old To Death After ‘Insulting Islam’ On Messenger App
Hassan Ghaedi/AFP/Getty Images
MARCH 30, 2017
Free speech and Islam appear to be sworn enemies. Anybody who dares
to draw the Prophet, let alone insults Islam, must face the firing squad.
That’s exactly what happened to 21-year-old Sina Dehghan. According
to The Daily Mail, Denghan “has been sentenced to death after 'insulting
the prophet' of Islam on an instant messaging app. Sina Dehghan was
19 when he was arrested by the Iranian revolutionary guard at a military
barracks in Tehran in October 2015 for insulting the national religion
on the messaging app LINE.”
to draw the Prophet, let alone insults Islam, must face the firing squad.
That’s exactly what happened to 21-year-old Sina Dehghan. According
to The Daily Mail, Denghan “has been sentenced to death after 'insulting
the prophet' of Islam on an instant messaging app. Sina Dehghan was
19 when he was arrested by the Iranian revolutionary guard at a military
barracks in Tehran in October 2015 for insulting the national religion
on the messaging app LINE.”
Iranian authorities managed to extract a forced confession out of
Dehghan, say human rights activists. Authorities promised the
young man a pardon if chose to confess his so-called crime. He
obliged and the authorities double-crossed him. The confession was
taped on-camera and prosecutors have used the footage to
incriminate the young man.
Dehghan, say human rights activists. Authorities promised the
young man a pardon if chose to confess his so-called crime. He
obliged and the authorities double-crossed him. The confession was
taped on-camera and prosecutors have used the footage to
incriminate the young man.
“But after signing the confession, prosecutors dropped the agreement
and kept Dehghan incarcerated at Arak Prison,” notes The Mail.
and kept Dehghan incarcerated at Arak Prison,” notes The Mail.
Iran also promised Dehghan’s release in exchange for his family’s
obedience and quiet during the judicial process, adding another lie
to the pile.
obedience and quiet during the judicial process, adding another lie
to the pile.
It’s unclear what Dehghan actually said on the messaging app that the
zealot mullahs of Iran found so offensive. But that’s immaterial. As an
Islamic supremacist regime, Iran does not pay deference to the idea
of free speech. Islam supersedes all.
zealot mullahs of Iran found so offensive. But that’s immaterial. As an
Islamic supremacist regime, Iran does not pay deference to the idea
of free speech. Islam supersedes all.
Dehghan’s death penalty was confirmed in January and upheld by
Tehran’s highest court. Insulting the prophet is punishable by death,
according to Iranian Penal Code.
Tehran’s highest court. Insulting the prophet is punishable by death,
according to Iranian Penal Code.
Anyone can fall victim to the Islamophobia thought police. Anyone.
Case in point. Dehghan “was a conscript posted as a guard in military
barracks,” explains The Mail. “[He] had just four days left in his military
service when he was arrested in 2015."
barracks,” explains The Mail. “[He] had just four days left in his military
service when he was arrested in 2015."
According to Iran's Islamic Penal Code, insulting the prophet is
punishable by death.
punishable by death.
Dehghan’s co-defendents, Sahar Eliasi and Mohammad Nouri, were
also charged and convicted for similar offenses. Elias was sentenced
to seven years in prison, but successfully cut down his punishment to
three years after going through an appeals court process. Nouri was
less lucky. He was sentenced to death for insulting the prophet.
International monitors and human rights groups have yet to receive
information about the Supreme Court’s ruling on his fate.
also charged and convicted for similar offenses. Elias was sentenced
to seven years in prison, but successfully cut down his punishment to
three years after going through an appeals court process. Nouri was
less lucky. He was sentenced to death for insulting the prophet.
International monitors and human rights groups have yet to receive
information about the Supreme Court’s ruling on his fate.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for commenting. Your comments are needed for helping to improve the discussion.