Iran on Tuesday executed a young man diagnosed with bipolar disorder who was arrested in 2022 during the Mahsa Amini protests, despite widespread calls for his release.
Mohammad Ghobadlou was executed on Tuesday morning after his death sentence was approved by the Supreme Court, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported.
His lawyer Amir Raesian had warned of his imminent execution on Monday, prompting rights activists in Iran to appeal for his life to be spared.
Mr Ghobadlou, 23, was under the supervision of a psychiatric hospital for bipolar disorder since the age of 15, Amnesty International said. It said he was beaten in custody and denied his medication and that his right to a fair trial had been “flagrantly violated”.
“International law and standards prohibit using the death penalty against people with mental disabilities,” the rights group said.
He was accused of running over a security officer in Tehran in September 2022, with authorities handing down two death sentences.
Iran has reportedly executed hundreds of people over the protests sparked by the death that month of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in custody of the so-called morality police.
The demonstrations quickly spread to every province, with protesters condemning the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and calling for an end to repressive laws that curtail the rights of women.
Rights groups say about 500 people were killed and more than 20,000 arrested in the state crackdown on the protests. Although Tehran claims to have pardoned many of those detained, dozens remain on death row.
Mr Ghobadlou's death sentence was upheld and overturned several times.
Protesters crowded outside Karaj jail in January last year after reports that his execution was imminent. In March, rights groups warned he was at “grave risk” of being put to death.
Iran is routinely criticised for denying political prisoners legal representation and a fair trial.
It has publicly announced the execution of at least seven protesters from the Mahsa Amini demonstrations, leading to new western sanctions being issued.
Rights groups have said others have been executed in secret.
About 115 people were executed in relation to the protests in November, Amnesty International said, warning that authorities were on a “killing spree”.
All of the executed were accused of “corruption on Earth” over alleged involvement in the deaths of members of the Basij paramilitary, the primary force behind the suppression of the protests.
Mr Ghobadlou was denied a lawyer during interrogations and repeatedly beaten during his time in prison, in which he was also placed in solitary confinement, right groups said.
His medication was also withheld “to force his confession” that he deliberately ran over several officials with a car to cause death, Amnesty International said.
His mother appealed for his release in an emotional video from outside the prison on Monday night.
Prominent Iranian activists, including some behind bars, had appealed for the sentence to be dropped.
Mr Ghabadlou's execution “is intentional government murder and a crime”, wrote Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
“Don't leave Mohammad Ghobadlou's mother alone outside the prison walls.”
Iran has one of the world's highest execution rates and routinely puts to death prisoners accused of murder and offences related to drugs and terrorism. Charges are often levelled against political prisoners and dual citizens.
Executions surged 75 per cent in 2022, with about 528 people killed, rights groups said.
A 2023 report from the UN said Iran was carrying out executions “at an alarming rate”, putting to death about 419 people in the first seven months of the year.
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RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The%20specs
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
MATCH INFO:
Second Test
Pakistan v Australia, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am daily at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Entrance is free
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
ENGLAND SQUAD
Team: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements 16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
The%20Specs%20
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RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
