Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Habib Farajollah Chaab, an Iranian-Swedish dissident accused of leading a group that bombed a military parade in Ahvaz in 2018. The confirmation of the sentence means that Chaab may be executed soon. The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz, the separatist group that Chaab is accused of leading, has allegedly launched many “terrorist” operations on Iranian soil, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. In 2020, Iran claimed that its security forces arrested Chaab in Turkey and took him to Tehran, but did not disclose where or how he was captured. A lower court had issued the death sentence for “corruption on earth” in early December. Iran does not formally recognise dual nationality status.
According to the judiciary website, the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz has been responsible for several “terrorist” attacks on Iranian soil, including the 2018 attack on a military parade that killed 25 and wounded close to 250 people. Chaab was sentenced to death after several court sessions with the presence of his lawyer, and the Supreme Court confirmed his death sentence, according to Iran’s judiciary’s Mizan news agency.
Chaab is not the only person incarcerated in Iran over ties with the Arab separatist group. Last week, a court in Ahvaz sentenced six other men accused of being members of the group to execution. The men were sentenced on charges of conducting separate “terrorist” operations between 2017 and 2019 that killed two members of the Basij paramilitary force in Abadan and a law enforcement member and a military conscript in Khuzestan.
Iran’s relations with Sweden have increasingly soured in recent years, partly concerning the cases of Hamid Nouri, a former Iranian official jailed in Sweden on alleged human rights abuses, and Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish researcher imprisoned in Tehran over espionage charges.
The confirmation of Chaab’s death sentence has sparked outrage from human rights groups, who have called for his release. Amnesty International has condemned the decision, stating that Chaab’s trial was “grossly unfair” and that he had been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in detention. The group has also expressed concern over the use of the death penalty in Iran, which it says is used as a tool of repression against dissidents and political opponents.
The European Union has also condemned Iran’s decision to uphold Chaab’s death sentence. In a statement, the EU said that it was “deeply concerned” by the decision and called on Iran to respect human rights and the rule of law. The statement also called on Iran to ensure that Chaab receives a fair trial and is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.
The confirmation of Chaab’s death sentence comes amid growing tensions between Iran and the international community over its nuclear programme. The US and its allies have accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, while Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. The US has imposed sanctions on Iran in an attempt to force it to abandon its nuclear programme, while Iran has responded by increasing its uranium enrichment activities.
The situation has raised concerns about a potential military conflict between Iran and the US or its allies. The confirmation of Chaab’s death sentence is likely to further strain relations between Iran and the international community, particularly Sweden, which has been a vocal critic of Iran’s human rights record.
In conclusion, the confirmation of Habib Farajollah Chaab’s death sentence by Iran’s Supreme Court has sparked outrage from human rights groups and condemnation from the international community. The decision is likely to further strain relations between Iran and the international community, particularly Sweden, which has been a vocal critic of Iran’s human rights record. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US and its allies over Iran’s nuclear programme and raises concerns about a potential military conflict.