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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Iran | Man Executed for Drug Charges in Kerman, Man Executed for Drug Charges in Mashhad, Man Executed for Drug Charges in Zahedan

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 28, 2021: Baluch Heidar Ghaljayi was executed for drug-related offences in Kerman Central Prison. At least 108 prisoners, including two women, have been executed on drug-related charges in Iranian prisons in 2021 compared to 25 in 2020.

According to Resanak, a Baluch man was executed in Kerman Central Prison on November 25. His identity has been established as Heidar Ghaljayi who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Heidar was arrested at a checkpoint in Kerman three years ago and had been detained at Kerman Central Prison since. He was deprived of the right to visit his family for the last time.

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

Iran Human Rights previously reported the executions of Abdolsattar Shehbakhsh and Khan Mohammad Rahmatzehi at the same prison on the same day.

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 106 people have so far been executed on the same charge in 2021.

Ebrahim Narouyi Executed for Drug Charges in Mashhad Central Prison


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 28, 2021: Baluch Ebrahim Narouyi was executed for drug-related offences in Mashhad Central Prison. At least 107 prisoners, including two women, have been executed on drug-related charges in Iranian prisons in 2021 compared to 25 in 2020.

According to the Baluch Activists’ Campaign, a Baluch man was executed in Mashhad Central Prison on November 28. His identity has been established as Ebrahim Narouyi who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

At the time of writing, Ebrahim’s 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 106 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.

Majid Sargolzayi Executed for Drug Charges in Zahedan Central Prison


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 28, 2021: Baluch Majid Sargolzayi was executed for drug-related offences in Zahedan Central Prison. At least 106 prisoners, including two women, have been executed on drug-related charges in Iranian prisons in 2021 compared to 25 in 2020.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on November 27. His identity has been established as 40-year-old Majid Sargolzayi who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Majid was arrested in 2017 on charges of “drug possession” and sentenced to death by Branch One of the Zahedan Revolutionary Court in February 2020. On November 26, he was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution from Ward 4 along with death row brothers Abdulghafar Shehbakhsh, Mohammad Shehbakhsh and Sakhi Shehbakhsh. At the time of writing, their executions have not been carried out and they remain in solitary confinement.

At the time of writing, Majid’s 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 106 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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, November 28, 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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