Iran | 3 Executions in Arak; Executions in Urmia, Neishabur, Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 18, 2023: Three men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were executed in Arak Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Arak Central Prison on February 14. One of the men has been identified as Mostafa Majnouni. The identities of the other two men have not been established at the time of writing. All three men were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Mostafa was from Arak and had been arrested in 2020 and sentenced to death. Nobody knows who the other two men were, it’s possible they were transferred to Arak Prison for execution from another prison.”

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

On January 27, Iran Human Rights warned of the high number of drug executions currently being carried out in Iran. Of the 66 executions carried out in January, at least 43 (65%) people were executed for drug-related charges, none of which were officially announced.

Drug executions dramatically dropped between 2018-2020 following the Amendment to the Anti-Drug Laws in 2017. However, this reversed in practice in 2021 when numbers increased by five-fold and have continued to rise throughout 2022 and 2023.

Man Hanged in Urmia

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 18, 2023: Nojoumi Moradi, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Urmia Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Urmia Central Prison on February 16. His identity has been established as 42-year-old Nojoumi Moradi.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights that Nojoumi was arrested two years ago and sentenced to qisas for murder.

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

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 in Neishabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 16, 2023: Parviz Foroutani, a man sentenced to qisas(retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Neishabur Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Neishabur Prison on February 15. His identity has been established as Parviz Foroutani who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Parviz Foroutani was arrested for an honour killing around four years ago. He was a barber prior to his arrest.”

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

Man hanged in Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 15, 2023: Three men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were executed in Karaj Penitentiary.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Karaj Penitentiary on February 14. Two of their identities have been established as Mojtaba Zarpasand and Mehdi Doustdari who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court. The identity of the third man has not been established at the time of writing.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Mehdi Doustdari was one of the people injured in the prison riot in December. He was arrested for drug charges in 2019 and sentenced to death.”

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, February 15-18, 2023

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
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