Iran executes exiled journalist who encouraged 2017 protests

By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has executed an exiled journalist over his online work that helped inspire nationwide economic protests in 2017.

Saturday's execution of Ruhollah Zam came a little more than a year after authorities tricked him into traveling to Iraq where he was abducted.

Zam's AhmadNews website and a channel he created on the popular messaging app Telegram had spread the timings of the protests and embarrassing information about officials that directly challenged Iran's Shiite theocracy.

Journalism groups criticized Zam's execution. It likely will further chill an already-scattered Iranian opposition across the West.

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