Iran 'on verge of collapse' after carrying out first execution over protests

© Provided by Metro Mohsen Shekari was hanged this morning after being found guilty of injuring a security guard with a knife

Iran has announced the first known execution of a man convicted over the recent anti-government unrest sparked by the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini.

Mohsen Shekari was hanged this morning after being found guilty of injuring a security guard with a knife and blocking a street in Tehran.

Amnesty International already said he was convicted after ‘a grossly unfair sham trial’.

State media published a video of what it said was his confession where he appears with a bruise on his right cheek.

Rights groups have said Shekari was tortured and forced into a false confession.

Director of Iran Human Rights, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, has called on the international community to ‘immediately and strongly react to the execution’.

© Provided by Metro Protests again erupted in Tehran last night in a renewed bid to overthrow the regime (Picture: Omid Djalili) © Provided by Metro People headed to Tehran’s famous Azadi Square (Picture: Omid Djalili)

‘The Islamic Republic must face consequences that will prevent further execution of protesters.

He said: ‘Mohsen Shekari was executed after a hasty and unfair trial without a lawyer.

© Provided by Metro Iranian state TV broadcast footage from Mohsen Shekari’s trial before a Revolutionary Court last month (Picture: IRIB)

‘If Mohsen Shekari’s execution is not met with serious consequences for the government, we will face mass execution of protesters.’

British foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said he was ‘outraged’ by the news, while Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said the regime’s ‘inhumanity knows no bounds’.

© Provided by Metro Iranian Supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei (Picture: Avalon)

Shekari’s arrest, trial and execution took only weeks, and according to Amnesty International, authorities are seeking the death penalty for at least 21 people in connection with the protests.

His death comes hours after further demonstrations broke out in the capital in a renewed bid to overthrow the Iranian regime.

Videos shared on social media show what looks like hundreds of people heading to Tehran’s famous Azadi Square last night.

Actor Omid Djalili, who was born in London to Iranian parents, shared a video on Twitter of floods of cars.

He said that the protest on Wednesday had been ‘organised in secrecy’, citing information sent to him from inside Iran.

‘Reports coming in of helicopters taking off from within the boundaries of the Presidential compound removing several families from inside Khamenei’s House,’ he tweeted.

Djalili later added: ‘Messages I’m getting from Iran: “Tehran on verge of collapse.

‘Leaked: Basij leader there has admitted the possibility of Tehran’s fall tonight is extremely high and that the Presidential palace may be attacked. Khamenei and Raisi told to be transferred to a safe place ASAP”.’

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