The man was accused of leading a human trafficking and prostitution ring in Iran. He was eventually executed. “After the confirmation of the conviction of Shahrouz Sokhanvari, alias Alex, by the Supreme Court, he was hanged this (Saturday) morning”, indicated the information site Mizan Online.
Shahrouz Sokhanvari was found guilty of “corruption on earth” for “establishing and managing a large international prostitution network, which attracts Iranian and foreign girls”, Mizan added.
Hangings denounced
The convict had left Iran in 1983, to live in countries such as India, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and the United States before being arrested by Iranian agents abroad and then brought back to Iran in 2020, according to the same source. No details were provided on the process leading to his arrest.
The execution of Shahrouz Sokhanvari comes the day after the hanging of three men convicted of “moharebeh” (war against God) for their involvement in the death on November 16 in the city of Isfahan (center) of three members of the forces of order during the demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Friday’s executions were denounced in the West and criticized by human rights groups based outside Iran.
220 people already executed
Iran has been the scene of waves of protests following the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, 22, an Iranian Kurd who was arrested for violating the Islamic Republic’s dress code. Iran has executed more than 220 people since the beginning of the year, according to the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Norway.
The country executes more people every year than any other country except China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International. At least 582 people were executed in Iran last year, according to Iran Human Rights and another Paris-based organization, Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).