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- Footballer union 鈥榮ickened鈥� as Iranian player risks death sentence
JEDDAH: Courts in Tehran have sentenced 400 people to jail terms of up to 10 years over their involvement in protests sparked by Mahsa Amini鈥檚 death, Iran鈥檚 judiciary said on Tuesday.
Iran has been gripped by nearly three months of protests 鈥� which officials describe as 鈥渞iots鈥� 鈥� since the death of Amini after her arrest for an alleged breach of the country鈥檚 dress code for women.
鈥淚n hearings on cases of rioters in Tehran province, 160 people were sentenced to between five and 10 years in prison, 80 people to two to five years and 160 people of up to two years,鈥� Tehran鈥檚 judiciary chief Ali Alghasi-Mehr said.
Opinion
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The regime has drawn widespread international condemnation after executing two men in the past week in connection with the unrest.
Majidreza Rahnavard and Mohsen Shekari, both 23, were hanged on Monday and Thursday respectively on the charges of 鈥渕oharebeh鈥� 鈥� or 鈥渆nmity against God鈥� under Iran鈥檚 law.
Prior to the two executions, Iran鈥檚 judiciary said it had issued death sentences to 11 people over the protests, but campaigners say around a dozen others face charges that could see them also receive the death penalty.
The world union of professional footballers FIFPRO said it was 鈥渟hocked and sickened鈥� by the risk of Iranian footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani being sentenced to death in connection with protests.
BACKGROUND
The regime has drawn widespread condemnation after executing two men in the past week in connection with the unrest.
Nasr-Azadani was arrested in the city of Isfahan two days after allegedly taking part in an 鈥渁rmed riot鈥� in which three security agents were killed on Sept. 16, Isfahan鈥檚 judiciary chief Abdullah Jafari said.
鈥淔IFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women鈥檚 rights and basic freedom in his country,鈥� the union tweeted on its page.
鈥淲e stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment,鈥� it added.
France鈥檚 foreign minister said she would summon Iran鈥檚 charge d鈥檃ffaires over the country鈥檚 role in crackdowns on protesters at home and the treatment of seven French nationals, currently in custody.
The UK announced new sanctions against Iranians and senior Russian military commanders, involved in the producing and supplying drones to target Ukraine.
Iranian-manufactured drones supplied to Russia have played a 鈥渃entral role鈥� in such attacks, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the Tehran regime, which has been hit by a wave of civilian protests in recent months, was 鈥渟triking sordid deals鈥� with Moscow 鈥渋n a desperate attempt to survive.鈥�