Iran to hang three over Shiraz shrine attack

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s judiciary on Sunday sentenced three people to death and four others to prison terms over their connection with deadly attacks on a Shiite shrine in the southern city of Shiraz.

The Shah Cheragh mosque in Fars province’s Shiraz, Iran’s second-holiest Shiite shrine, was the subject of several attacks in 2022 and 2023 that killed 15 people, which the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for. 

“Three defendants were sentenced to death on charges of aiding and abetting ‘corruption on earth,’” the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan Online said, citing Fars province chief justice Sadrollah Rajai. They were also given 25-year prison terms on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God). 

Two suspected ISIS members were also given 15 and 10 years in prison in connection with the attacks.

Two women were each sentenced to five years, and Mizan said their sentences “will be carried out with Islamic mercy, under the supervision of electronic ankle bracelets and within a thousand meters of their residence, considering the special circumstances.” 

Rajai said that a separate part of the case involving weapons charges against one defendant is currently under review.

He added that intelligence efforts following the attacks led to the identification, arrest, and prevention of further terrorist acts by the suspects.

In July 2023, Iran hanged two men in public over the attack.

On October 26, 2022, gunmen opened fire on worshippers at Shah Cheragh mosque, killing 13 people. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack later during the day.

On August 13 of the following year, another attack at Shah Cheragh killed two people and injured eight others.