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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 | 3 Men Including Afghan National Executed in Karaj, Man Secretly Executed for Drug Charges in Zahedan, Man Secretly Executed for Drug Charges in Zabol

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 20, 2022: Three men including an Afghan National were executed for murder and drug-related charges in Karaj Penitentiary.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Karaj Penitentiary on December 20. The identity of one of the men has been established as Mehdi Kamranifar who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges. His co-defendant’s identity has not been established at the time of writing.

The identity of the third prisoner who was an Afghan national and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder has also not been established.

At the time of writing, none of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

On December 17, Karaj Penitentiary prisoners had started a riot in protest to Mehdi Kamranifar being transferred for execution. 31-year-old Mohsen Mansouri was one of the prisoners who lost his life that day.

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.

More than 500 people including 2 juvenile offenders have been executed in 2022, the highest annual execution since 2017.

Man Secretly Executed for Drug Charges in Zahedan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 20, 2022: Ghasem Salarzehi, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on December 17. His identity has been reported as 40-year-old Ghasem Salarzehi who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Aziz Gorgij was a father of three and had been arrested around three years ago. His execution was carried out without his family being notified, and the right to a last visit to say goodbye.

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

Man Secretly Executed for Drug Charges in Zabol


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 20, 2022: Aziz Gorgij, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was secretly executed in Zabol Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zabol Prison on December 18. His identity has been reported as 25-year-old Aziz Gorgij (known as Bidollah Barahouyi) who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Aziz Gorgij’s execution was carried out without his family being notified, and the right to a last visit to say goodbye.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, December 20-22, 2022





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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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