Iran executes dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam over his writings about protests

The Islamic Republic of Iran on Saturday put to death 47-year-old journalist Ruhollah Zam in connection with his work that helped inspire protests in the country.

Zam, who had been living in France, fell into the hands of Iran subsequent to authorities tricking him into going to Iraq where he was then taken, according to the Associated Press. 

"Iranian state television referred to Zam as 'the leader of the riots' in announcing his execution by hanging early Saturday," the outlet reported. "Zam’s website AmadNews and a channel he created on the popular messaging app Telegram had spread the timings of the 2017 protests and embarrassing information about officials that directly challenged Iran’s Shiite theocracy," the outlet said. 

Amnesty International's Diana Eltahawy said the man's “execution is a deadly blow to freedom of expression in Iran and shows the extent of the Iranian authorities’ brutal tactics to instill fear and deter dissent.”

Zam left Iran following 2009 protests going to France after he went to Malaysia, according to the outlet. Iranian authorities have not divulged how the nation's Revolutionary Guard detained Zam, but Amnesty said that the man was taken while in Iraq.