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Activists Call on President Biden to End the Federal Death Penalty Before Leaving Office

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A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.

Iran: Political prisoner Aziz Khakzad secretly hanged in Kerman Central Prison

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October 4, 2011: Political prisoner Aziz Khakzad was secretly hanged in Kerman Central Prison, Iran, on charges of Waging War Against God (Moharebeh). He was a resident of Salmas County in Kurdistan Province and was exiled to Kerman to serve his prison term.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Khakzad was a 29 year old political activist arrested in 2007. The Revolutionary Court in Khoy County sentenced him to death on charges of Waging War Against God and helping opposition groups.

As a result of efforts made by his family and friends, the Appeals Court had reduced the death sentence to 5 years in prison and exiled him to Kerman.

Last night, Aziz Khakzad was unexpectedly transferred from the general prison population to solitary confinement and was hanged in Kerman Prison this morning.

Aziz Khakzad’s family received the news of his execution this morning but Iranian government officials have yet to confirm the report.

Source: HRANA News Agency, October 4, 2011
Location: Kerman, Iran
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