The United States on Thursday urged Iran not to carry out the executions of three people involved in nationwide protests, with campaigners fearing that authorities will kill them imminently, AFP reported.
State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel, echoing a statement last week by Amnesty International, voiced concern that Iran may soon execute Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi, who were arrested in November over protests in the central city of Isfahan.
"We join the people of Iran and the international community in calling on Iran to not carry out these executions," Patel was quoted as having told reporters.
"The execution of these men after what have widely been regarded as sham trials would be an affront to human rights and basic dignity in Iran and everywhere,” he added.
"It is clear from this episode that the Iranian regime has learned nothing from the protests that began with another death, the death of Mahsa Amini," stated Patel.
Protests have swept Iran since September when Amini, 22, died in custody after her arrest for allegedly violating the clerical state's dress rules for women.
The government crackdown on the demonstrations resulted in hundreds of people being killed, including dozens of security personnel, and thousands arrested.
Several people have already been executed over their involvement in the protests and death sentences have been handed down to others.
Kazemi's case has caused concern in Australia where some of his family live, with his cousin saying that he was involved in "peaceful protests" for change.
Iranian authorities recently announced that cameras would be installed in public places and thoroughfares to identify and penalize unveiled women.
After they have been identified, violators will receive “warning text messages as to the consequences”, police said in a statement.
Several days later, authorities said they had closed 150 commercial establishments whose employees were not complying with the dress code.