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U.S. | I'm a Death Row Pastor. They're Just Ordinary Folks

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In the early 1970s I was a North Carolinian, white boy from the South attending Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and working in East Harlem as part of a program. In my senior year, I visited men at the Bronx House of Detention. I had never been in a prison or jail, but people in East Harlem were dealing with these places and the police all the time. This experience truly turned my life around.

Iran | Executions carried out in Ardabil, Yazd, Zahedan

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Iran Human Rights (IHR); September 2, 2021: Mohammad Sadeghzadeh who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for an “honour-related” murder, was executed in Ardabil Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Ardabil Central Prison on the morning of September 1. His identity has been established as 30-year-old Mohammad Sadeghzadeh who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told IHR: “Mohammad Sadeghzadeh was arrested and sentenced to death for an honour killing. Mohammad was married and when he found out that one of his friends had an affair with his wife, he stabbed him to death with a knife.”

“Mohammad Sadeghzadeh had escaped the gallows after he managed to buy time from his victim’s family. They refused to extend the deadline this time and he was executed,” the source added.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 211 of the 267 people executed in 2020 were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for "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.

70th Person Executed on Drug Charges in 2021


Iran Human Rights (IHR); September 2, 2021: Yasin Rezaeipour who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was executed in Yazd Central Prison. At least 70 prisoners, including a woman, have been executed on drug-related charges in Iranian prisons in 2021.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in in Yazd Central Prison on September 1. His identity has been established as Qazvin-native, Yasin Rezaeipour, who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Speaking to IHR, an informed source said: “Yasin Rezaeipour had been in prison for around five years. He was arrested on charges of carrying methamphetamine and crack. His co-defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison and was transferred to Qazvin Prison two years ago.”

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 25 people were executed on drug-related charges in 2020. However, at least 70 people have so far been executed on the same charge in 2021.

On May 3, IHR published a report on the death penalty in the first four months of 2021 expressing concern at the significant increase in the number of drug-related executions and continues to warn of the continuation of this trend.

Mansour Kahrazehi Executed in Zahedan


Iran Human Rights (IHR); September 1, 2021: Mansour Kahrazehi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on the morning of August 28. His identity has been established as Mansour Kahrazehi, who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

Resanak which first broke news of his execution reported that Mansour was arrested for the murder of his uncle and sentenced to qisas. His grandfather had refused to grant forgiveness or accept diya (blood money) instead of retribution.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 211 of the 267 people executed in 2020 were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for "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, September 1-2, 2021


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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Location: Iran
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