Man Executed in Iran for 'Waging War Against God' Months After Protest Wave

Iran has executed another man in connection with the widespread protests that swept the country in January. The execution, carried out on Thursday, is the fifth related to the high-profile and controversial "Alikhani Square case." According to official reports, 14 men were sentenced to death in this case for allegedly killing four police officers during the unrest.

The judiciary reported that the man executed was reportedly a foreign national, though his country of origin was not specified. This follows the public executions of two men in Isfahan at the end of July, which drew widespread condemnation. The charges against the executed man included "waging war against God" and "corruption on earth," under Iran's interpretation of Islamic law. Human rights advocates argue that such broad charges allow for judicial arbitrariness.

With this latest execution, nearly 30 men have been put to death in connection with the protests and subsequent crackdown. The demonstrations, initially sparked by an economic crisis in late December, rapidly escalated into mass protests against the authoritarian government. The state responded with a violent suppression, resulting in thousands of reported deaths.

Human rights organizations have long criticized Iran's stringent application of the death penalty, accusing authorities of using executions as a tool for intimidation. Amnesty International reported that at least 2,159 people were executed in Iran last year, the highest number recorded since 1981. The country has also carried out death sentences against alleged spies and political prisoners, particularly in relation to the Iran-Iraq war.