Iran punishes 5 people with death sentence over alleged killing of paramilitary member

In a latest crackdown on protesters, Iranian authorities have sentenced at least five people to death for allegedly killing a member of country's paramilitary force.

Eleven others have been given jail sentence with the longest being 25 years, subject to appeal, as per state news ageny IRNA.

The state news agency added that at least 13 men and three minors have been charged with the killing of one Ruhollaj Ajamian, who was the member of Basij paramilitary volunteer branch of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard.

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The alleged incident reportedly took place on November 12 in Karaj after a group of men chased and assaulted the victim with knives and stones.

The accused have been referred to as "rioters" by Iran media, a term being used to describe anti-government demonstrators.

Iran's revolutionary court which awarded the punishments reportedly did not provide any evidence to support its accusations.

The punishments come amid claims over morality police being shut down and ongoing protests over anti-hijab law which flared up after Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini's death in police custody.