Iranian Dervish Protester in Imminent Danger of Execution

According to a close source, Yavar Mohammad Salas was arrested after the protests of Gonabadi dervishes on February 19, 2018. He is charged with murdering three police officers by running over them by a bus; however, in his trial, he claimed that it was unintentional.
A close source who wanted to remain anonymous told Iran Human Rights, “Mohammad Salas is in a very critical situation. He is about to be executed, and these are probably the last days of his life.” The source also added, “Mohammad Salas is allowed to meet his lawyer and his family.”
He continued, “Mohammad Salas’s case has not been investigated adequately. His lawyer, Mr. Sae’ed Ashrafzadeh, asked many questions in the court which weren’t answered. And most importantly, car accidents are mainly considered unintentional and accidental both in Iran and other countries. In rare cases when they are intentional, they need to be investigated carefully regarding intention and criminal action. But none of Mr. Sae’ed Ashrafzadeh’s questions were answered.”
It should be noted that Yavar Mohammad Salas openly announced in the court that he was tortured in the police station. In one of the public trial sessions he said, “After I got out of my car in Golestan Haftom Ave., I got into the bus and drove it toward the police station. I was driving slowly; I already said that I didn’t hit the officers on purpose, but they beat me and broke my arm. I didn’t mean to kill the officers. I honked the horn and flashed my headlights to make them go away.”
The third and last hearing session of Mohammad Salas was held on Sunday, March 18. He rejected all the accusations and stated that his action was unintentional and he was just escaping out of fear of being beaten by the police again. He couldn’t see well and lost control because his arm was broken.”
Eventually, Mohammad Salas was sentenced to imprisonment and death by retribution on the charge of “murdering three police officers and disturbing public order.”
On February 19, the clashes broke out while a group of Gonabadi dervishes was protesting in front of a police station. Hundreds of them were arrested and one of them, named Mohammad Raji, died due to the injuries he received during his detention or interrogation.