Teen given double death sentence in Iran for role in anti-regime street protests
An 18-year-old man has been given a double death sentence by a court in Iran for the role he played in the country's anti-regime street protests.
Protestor Mehdi Mohammadi Fard was given the double sentence for both 'moharebeh' - waging war against God - and corruption.
The teenager was also given jail terms for a series of less-serious offences by the Revolutionary Court of Sari.
Fard - who can appeal his sentence - was seized by security officials in Nowshahr on September 30 after he was accused of setting fire to a traffic police kiosk nine days earlier.
However, human rights activist and legal expert Moin Khazaeli has said the only pieces of evidence against Fard were his forced confessions following hours of torture.
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Protests have been taking place across Iran (AFP via Getty Images)It has emerged that the 18-year-old was also allegedly denied access to a lawyer.
Meanwhile, a student on trial in another Iranian court has been sentenced to nine months in jail and 60 lashes for attending a street protest.
The Revolutionary Court of Zahedan found 21-year-old Aida Portaki guilty of 'disturbance of public peace and order by attending an illegal gathering'.
Aida -an engineering mathematics student at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan - is said to have attended an anti-regime demonstration in Zahedan on November 15.
Aida Portaghi has been sentenced to nine months in prison (Newsflash)The court also ordered the 21-year-old to conduct a comparative study on the hijab and clothing of Iranian women as part of her punishment.
The sentences come as officials in Iran are cracking down on non-observance of the mandatory hijab rule.
Text messages are now reportedly being sent to women who are spotted without their headscarves in their cars to remind them of the rule.
Aida is said to have attended an anti-regime demo in Zahedan on November 15 (Newsflash)In addition, the government has said it will close businesses that serve women who do not wear the garment.
A number of bank managers have reportedly been sacked from their jobs for providing services to women not complying with the rule.
There are plans in place to use facial identification technology on women caught on CCTV without hijabs on, with a possibility that they will be denied social services.
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Anti-regime protests broke out in Iran on September 16 after morality police fatally beat 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini for wearing her hijab "improperly".
Protestors have been demanding the overthrow of Iran's clerical rulers following the tragic death of Ms Amini, who died in police custody.
Ms Amini was arrested for so-called improper dress as her hair was not properly covered.
At least 476 protesters have been killed, while at least 100 are facing execution or death-penalty charges or sentences, according to the non-profit Iran Human Rights.
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