Iran | Man Executed for Murder in Aligoudarz; Execution of Cousins in Ardabil; Possible Juvenile Executed in Qazvin

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 8, 2022: Sentenced to qisas for murder, Mirza Rouhifar was executed in Aligoudarz Prison on February 7.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Aligoudarz Prison on the morning of February 7. His identity has been established as 37-year-old Mirza Rouhifar, who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Speaking to Iran Human Rights, an informed source said: “Mirza Rouhifar sold tyres prior to his arrest. He was arrested on charges of murdering his neighbour over financial disputes and sentenced to death.”

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.

Execution of Cousins in Ardabil Exposes Another Man’s Wrongful Execution

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 7, 2022: Cousins Behzad and Yousef Tahmtan were executed on charges of murder in Ardabil Central Prison. On 16 May 2018, Babak Rezaei was wrongly executed for murders Behzad Tahmtan received the death penalty for.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Ardabil Central Prison on the morning of February 6. Their identities have been established as 32-year-old Behzad Tahmtan and 26-year-old Yousef Tahmtan. The men who were cousins, had been sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder and moharebeh (enmity against god) through armed robbery. They were arrested in February 2019.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Behzad and Yousef carried out armed robberies and extortions, and as well as moharebeh charges, Behzad also had five murders in his case and had been sentenced to qisas five times. They were both executed for the qisas charges today.”

“When Behzad and Yousef were arrested, another prisoner called Babak Rezaei had already been mistakenly executed for the murders that Behzad had committed,” the source added.

According to Iran Human Rights’ records, 41-year-old Babak Rezaei was executed in Ardabil Central Prison on 16 May 2018, months prior to Behzad’s arrest.

This is not the first case of prisoners being wrongly executed Iran Human Rights has received. The prisoners were usually subjected to torture in police custody and forced to make false self-incriminating confessions to crimes they had not committed.

At the time of writing, Behzad and Yousef Tahmtan’s executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Possible Juvenile Offender Khatoun Hamidi Executed in Qazvin

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 6, 2022: Khatoun Hamidi, a young woman who may have been a juvenile offender, sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman was executed in Qazvin Central Prison (Choobindar) on the morning of February 5. Her identity has been established as Khatoun Hamidi who was around 23 years old and had been sentenced to qisas for murder.

Speaking to Iran Human Rights, an informed source said: “Khatoun Hamidi had been behind bars for around 5 years on charges of murdering her fiancé. She didn’t love her fiancé and her father who was a drug addict had forced her to marry the victim who was wealthy.”

“Khatoun only had a brother, her mother had died and she felt like she was completely alone. Her brother threw himself into fire to obtain forgiveness from the victim’s family, but they refused and sought retribution,” the source added.

Khatoun Hamidi’s exact age at the time of the offence have not been established at the time of writing but it is believed that she may have been a juvenile offender. Iran Human Rights is continuing its investigations to establish her age.

At the time of writing, her 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."

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, February 8-7-6, 2022

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