Iran | Prisoners executed in Rasht and Qom

Iran Human Rights (IHR); August 7, 2020: A prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for murder has been executed at Rasht Central Prison.

According to Iran Human Rights, on the morning of Thursday, August 6, a man was executed in Rasht Central Prison.

His identity has been established as Mehrzad Jalalvand, aged around 35, was sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for murder.

An informed source has told IHR: "Mehrzad was from Khorramabad, but they lived near Lahijan for many years. In 2015, after a neighbour's son stabs Mehrzad's father twice during a fight, he goes to the neighbour's son and pushes him. The neighbour's son had a cerebral haemorrhage and died."

According to the source, Mehrzad had repeatedly stated in court and in letters to the judiciary from inside the prison, that he had no intention of killing the victim.

At the time of publication, the execution of this prisoner has not been announced by local media or officials.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 225 of the 280 of those executed in 2019 were charged with "premeditated murder."

Prisoner Jaffar Tayebi executed in Qom

Iran Human Rights (IHR); August 7, 2020: A prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for “premeditated murder” has been executed in Qom Central Prison (Choobindar).

According to Iran Human Rights, a prisoner was executed in Qom Central Prison this morning.

His identity has been established as Jaffar Tayebi, who had been sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for “premeditated murder.”

An informed source told IHR: “Tayebi killed his landlord’s son about three years ago and he was unable to obtain the consent of the victim’s family.”

The source also talked about the health conditions at Qom Central Prison during the COVID-19 outbreak: "No measures were taken to disinfect the wards during the corona outbreak, and even masks and gloves were not provided to the prisoners. The prison infirmary does not take care of sick prisoners and returns the sick prisoner to the ward immediately."

"Most of the prisoners who returned from furlough were infected with the coronavirus and spread it to other prisoners, and some prisoners are coughing from morning till night, and the authorities do not provide masks to these prisoners. None of the prisoners with corona were transferred out of prison for treatment and are being kept among other prisoners."

At the time of publication, the execution of Jaffar Tayebi has not been announced by officials or domestic media outlets.

According to Iran Human Rights’ annual report, at least 225 of the 280 of those executed in 2019 were charged with "premeditated murder." As there are no legal distinctions made between murder and manslaughter, whether voluntary or involuntary in Iran, those charged under the umbrella term of “premeditated murder” will receive the death penalty regardless of intent and the circumstances.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, August 7, 2020

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