Iran court issues 1st death sentence on protester

An Iranian court sentenced a protester to death for what a Tehran judiciary-linked website said Sunday was connected to "riots" following weeks of demonstrations against Iran's ruling party.

The judiciary-linked Mizan website said the person was sentenced to death for "setting fire to a government building, disturbing public order, assembly and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security, and an enemy of God and corruption on earth."

It's believed to be the first death penalty issued in response to the protests, which erupted following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, who was detained for wearing an "improper hijab.

Another five people were sentenced to prison terms that ranged from five to 10 years for "gathering and conspiring to commit crimes against national security and disturbing public order," according to Mizan.

Iranian authorities have charged over 2,000 people since the unrest began last September and hundreds more in three provinces Sunday, DW notes.

16 UN-appointed independent human rights experts issued a joint statement Friday urging Iranian authorities to "stop using the death penalty as a tool to squash protests."

"With the continuous repression of protests, many more indictments on charges carrying the death penalty and death sentences might soon be issued," said the United Nations experts, who are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.