Iran sentenced three individuals to death and some others to prison for their involvement in two fatal Islamic State-affiliated shootings at the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz. The convictions, handed down on Sunday, are in connection with the October 2022 and August 2023 attacks, which claimed the lives of 15 individuals.
The convicted were accused by the authorities of helping in planning and carrying out the attacks, which were directed towards one of Iran’s holiest Shiite locations. The Revolutionary Court also handed down further penalties under Iran’s Islamic penal code. The rulings are indicative of Tehran’s strict approach to terrorism in the face of regional unrest.
Death Penalty for ‘Corruption on Earth’
Sadrollah Rajaei-Nasab, the province’s chief justice, upheld the death sentences. The three defendants were convicted of assisting and abetting “corruption on earth,” punishable by death in Iran. The court also sentenced the trio to 25 years’ imprisonment on a charge of “moharebeh”—or enmity against God—a capital offense under Iranian religious law.
Officials said that their role facilitated the fatal attacks on the Shah Cheragh shrine.
Prison Sentences for Other Involved Members
Besides the three sentenced to death, two other individuals received 15-year and 10-year prison terms. The court identified them as members of the Islamic State. Officials stated that the sentencing depended on each person’s level of involvement in the planning and execution of the attacks.
The judiciary also sentenced two women to five years in prison each. But their punishment comes under “Islamic leniency” laws. They will be fitted with electronic ankle bracelets and remain within a one-kilometre radius of their homes.
Wider Case Still In the Works
The court rulings are part of a broader case with charges such as weapons trafficking. Certain rulings are still pending review by Iran’s Supreme Court. As an apparent related action, authorities publicly executed two men in July 2023 for the initial Shah Cheragh attack.
Iran also issued a death sentence to a Tajik citizen in September for being connected to the second attack.
Shrine Remains a Target Amid Regional Unrest
The Shah Cheragh mausoleum is among the most sacred places for Shiite Muslims in southern Iran. The site has been subjected to repeated threats from extremist organizations in recent years. Both shrine attacks were claimed by the Islamic State.
The security forces arrested nine foreign nationals following the second attack in August 2023. These attacks highlight Iran’s persistent challenge with terrorism as it deals with wider instability in the region.
