TEHRAN- Chief Justice of Fars Province Kazem Mousavi has said that the primary defendant in a terrorist attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in the Iranian city of Shiraz has received a death sentence.

The prime culprit, Rahmatollah Nowruzo of Tajikistan, was sentenced to death twice for “moharebeh” (waging war against God), armed revolt against the Islamic Republic, and collusion against Iran’s security, the Mizan news agency reported on Thursday.

He went on to say that the accused in the second and third tiers were sentenced to five years in prison and were spared the death penalty on charges of moharebeh and corruption on earth because they were “unaware of the sinister intention” of the principal culprit.

The report was released following three sessions at a local revolutionary court in Shiraz. They have 20 days to file an appeal in opposition to the ruling.

On August 13, Nowruzof, nicknamed Aslamyar, went on a shooting spree in the Shah Cheragh shrine killing two and injuring seven people. He carried an assault rifle and eight magazines with 240 bullets, 11 of which he managed to get off before being arrested.

The incident occurred less than a year after another armed terrorist stormed the holy site on October 26, 2022, murdering 15 pilgrims, including women and children, and wounding scores more before being shot and wounded by security forces. 

The terrorist later died of his wounds in hospital. Two of his accomplices were executed on July 8 after being sentenced to death.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said on August 18 that it had apprehended a Daesh-linked loyalist who performed the “most pivotal” role in the second fatal terrorist attack on the shrine.

According to the statement, 196 Takfiri terrorists were caught or murdered between the two terrorist attacks on Shiraz’s holy site, all of whom were non-Iranians. They were from Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.

Back in August, the world community as well as high-ranking officials strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, denounced the terrorist act in a televised speech. 

Nasrallah said it appeared that the United States has decided to send terrorists out into numerous areas once more.

Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the UN, strongly condemned the terrorist act, his spokesperson told reporters.

“Acts targeting religious sites, and places of worship are abhorrent,” Stephane Dujarric said.

The UN chief stressed the need to bring to justice those responsible for the heinous crime committed against civilians who were expressing their freedom of religion.

The European Union’s senior spokesperson for foreign affairs, Peter Stano, also strongly denounced the terrorist attack.