“Two Men Executed for Shrine Attack that Killed 13 in Iran”

Iran executed two men on Saturday for their involvement in an attack on a popular shrine in the southern Fars province that resulted in the deaths of 13 people. The men, Mohammad Ramez Rashidi and Naeim Hashem Qetali, were publicly executed in Shiraz, the capital city of Fars province.

The attack took place on October 26, 2022, when a heavily-armed man opened fire inside the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz, killing 13 people and injuring 40 others. The shrine, which houses the grave of a revered Shia scholar, is a significant attraction for both local and foreign tourists.

CCTV footage released by the police showed the lone gunman entering the shrine and firing at guards and pilgrims before being apprehended by the police. The attacker, identified as Hamed Badakhshan, later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Shiraz.

The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, making it the deadliest in Iran in several years. In March, two individuals were sentenced to death for their involvement in the attack, while three others received varying prison terms for their affiliation with Daesh.

The attack sent shockwaves across the country and led to calls for retaliation. Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi, vowed to punish the perpetrators.

The incident occurred during a period of widespread protests in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody. It was the first major attack claimed by Daesh in Iran since 2017, when the group targeted the Iranian Parliament and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran.

The execution of the two men serves as a reminder of the Iranian government’s commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of its citizens and visitors..