Iran executes second person by public hanging in connection with violence during protests

Iran on Monday executed a second resident convicted of crimes connected to the nationwide protests challenging their county’s Islamic-rule government – publicly hanging the man from a construction crane. 

The resident has been identified as Majidreza Rahnavard. He was convicted on charges of having fatally stabbed two members of a paramilitary force in response to the unit's killing of protesters.

The protests were sparked by the death in September of 22-year-old Masha Amini, while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's so-called morality police. She was arrested for allegedly failing to properly wear her hijab, a head scarf, to cover her hair.

Activists say that at least a dozen people have already been sentenced to death in closed-door hearings, according to the Associated Press. And at least 488 people have been killed since the demonstrations began, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, 

Another 18,200 people have reportedly been detained by authorities.

Mizan news agency, which falls under Iran's judiciary, reports that Rahnavard on Nov. 17 fatally stabbed two security force members and wounded four others.

Video aired on state TV appears to show a man chasing another around a street corner, then standing over him and stabbing him after he fell. Another showed the same man stabbing another immediately after. The assailant, which state TV alleged was Rahnavard, then fled.

The new agency has identified one of the stabbing victims as paramilitary volunteers under Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the Associated Press also reports.