Hossein Jalali

Hossein Jalali, the representative of Rafsanjan in Iran’s Parliament, has called for the execution of the protesters arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Jalali is one of the 227 MPs who, in a letter read in the public session of parliament on 6 November 2022, declared the protesters “mohareb” (enemies of God) and asked the judiciary to carry out the death penalty against them.

Following the publication of this letter by the media, which sparked public outrage, a number of lawmakers denied signing it. Hossein Jalali, however, was the only one who confirmed the existence and signing of a letter which demanded Qisas – retaliation in kind – against protesters.

The 2022 nationwide protests in Iran broke out following the murder of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Islamic Republic’s Morality Police on 13 September 2022, and have continued in various forms in different cities for more than three months. According to reports by human rights organisations, at least 469 citizens, including 63 children and 32 women, have been killed by law enforcement and security forces of the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Lawmakers Try To Deny Asking For Executions, Iran International, 14 November 2022