Iran | 2 Executed in Torbat Jam, Man Executed for Murder in Zahedan, Man Executed for Drug Offences in Mashhad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 18, 2022: Mohammad Nabi Suleimani and Abdullah Sufi, two Baluch men who had always denied the drug charges against them, were executed in Torbat Jam Prison despite a prison protest to prevent their death.

According to Hal Vash, two Baluch men were executed in Torbat Jam Prison on November 15. Their identities have been reported as 31-year-old Mohammad Nabi Soleimani (Rigi) and Abdullah Sufi (Golmir Rigi), both natives of Saleh Abad In Khorasan Razavi province.

They were arrested on 18 June 2019 while in a taxi on their way home by the border police. They were not in possession of any drugs and according to the Baluch Activists Campaign, they had repeatedly denied the charges in interrogations and in court. However, the presiding judge at the Revolutionary Court, Judge Vaziri, ignored the evidence and sentenced them to death.

The Baluch Activists Campaign also reported that prisoners at Torbat Jam Prison had protested their planned executions on November 7 which had continued for hours.

Following the prison protest, prison phones were cut off and a number of prisoners transferred to Mashhad Central Prison.

The families of old Mohammad Nabi Soleimani (Rigi) and Abdullah Sufi (Golmir Rigi) finally managed to see their son for ten minutes to say goodbye.

At the time of writing, neither of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

As of 10 October 2022, at least 428 people including two juvenile offenders and 12 women were executed by the Islamic Republic, an 89% increase compared to the same period last year. At least 180 people including a woman have been executed for drug-related offences since the beginning of the year. This is while 83 people were executed for the charges in the same period in 2021 and 18 in 2020.

Man Executed in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 18, 2022: Esmail Faghirdadzehi, a Baluch man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, has been executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on November 15. His identity has been reported as Esmail Faghirdadzehi (known as Mehrollah Shakib) who was arrested around six years ago for murder during a tribal conflict.

He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

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

According to data gathered by Iran Human Rights, at least 183 people were executed on murder charges in 2021. Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

Man Executed for Drug Offences in Mashhad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 18, 2022: Amin Abil, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, has been executed in Mashhad Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Mashhad Central Prison on November 16. His identity has been reported as Amin Abil who was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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

At least 251 including 6 women and 67 Baluch minorities were executed in the first six months of 2022. This is double the number of executions in the same period in 2021 when 117 people were executed.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, November 18, 2022

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