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Arkansas Supreme Court Decision Allows New DNA Testing in Case of the ​“West Memphis Three,” Convicted of Killing Three Children in 1993

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On April 18, 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court decided 4-3 to reverse a 2022 lower court decision and allow genetic testing of crime scene evidence from the 1993 killing of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis. The three men convicted in 1994 for the killings were released in 2011 after taking an Alford plea, in which they maintained their innocence but plead guilty to the crime, in exchange for 18 years’ time served and 10 years of a suspended sentence. 

Iran | Executions in Salmas, Urmia, Isfahan, Khorramabad, Yazd, Mashhad, Rasht, Torbat Jam, Birjand

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 6, 2023: Salahedin Majidi and Abdollah Khan Mohammadi, two men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were executed in Salmas Prison.

According to Iran Human Rights, two men were executed Salmas Prison on 6 May. Their identities have been established as Salahedin Majidi and Abdollah Khan Mohammadi.

They were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Informed sources told Iran Human Rights that they had both been on death row for around three years.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

According to reports gathered by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), at least 256 people were executed for drug-related offences in 2022, a more than two-fold increase compared to 2021 (126) and ten times more than 2020 (25).

Man executed in Urmia


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Faramarz Shakhsi, a man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Urmia Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Urmia Central Prison on 5 May. His identity has been established as 30-year-old Faramarz Shakhshi who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Faramarz Shakhsi had two children and was arrested around four years ago.”

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

Man executed in Isfahan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Habibollah Faghirdadzehi, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Isfahan Central Prison on 4 May. His identity has been reported as 43-year-old Habibollah Faghirdadzehi who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court. He was on death row for three years.

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

Since 29 April, at least 22 Baluch men and women have been executed in Iranian prisons.

Ethnic minorities, the Baluch in particular, are grossly overrepresented in execution numbers in Iran. In 2022, at least 174 Baluch minorities including 3 women, were executed in 22 prisons across Iran, making up 30% of overall executions. This is while they represent just 2-6% of Iran’s population.

Baluch minorities also represented almost half of drug-related executions in 2022. 47.3% of the 256 people executed for drug-related charges were Baluch.

Man executed in Khorramabad


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Hamid Emamizadeh, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison on 4 May. His identity has been established 25-year-old Hamid Emamizadeh who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Hamid Emamizadeh was arrested for murder around three years ago.”

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

According to data collected by Iran Human Rights, at least 582 people were executed in 2022. Only 71 (12%) were reported by official sources.

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.

Five executed in Yazd


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Five men were executed for drug-related and murder charges in Yazd Central Prison.

According to Iran Human Rights, five men including three Baluch minorities were executed in Yazd Central Prison on 4 May. Of the five, four were sentenced to death for drug-related charges and one for murder.

The four men executed for drug-related charges were identified as: Sabour Shehbakhsh, a 32-year-old Baluch man whose brother was also executed for drug charges several years ago, Amir Ramshak, a 35-year-old Baluch father of two, Abdolbasir Bajem Totazehi, a 29-year-old Baluch man on death row for nine years, and Sadegh Mashhouri from Yazd.

Abbas Piralayi, a 40-year-old man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was also executed at the prison that day.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “They’d given Abbas Piralayi until Saturday to come up with the diya. But he was executed before the deadline. Abdolbasir had denied the drug charges in court and never accepted the charges at his three hearings.”

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Since 29 April, at least 20 Baluch men and women have been executed in Zahedan, Birjand, Mashhad, Bandarabbas, Minab, Yazd and Iranshahr prisons.

Three executed in Mashhad


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Three Baluch men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were executed in Mashhad Central Prison between 1-4 May.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was secretly executed in Mashhad Central Prison on 1 May. His identity has been reported as 38-year-old Hossein Vahedi Rigi who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Courts.

His family were not notified of his execution. His secret execution deprived him of the right to a last visit. Aminollah Karimi Ghaljayi, another Baluch man, was also executed at the prison that day.

On 2 May, another Baluch man was executed at the prison. His identity has been reported as 31-year-old Mohammad Malekdadzehi who was also sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. He was a father of three from the village of Doust Mohammad Ghergheri.

On 4 May, another Baluch man was executed at the prison. His identity has been reported as Nourahmad Zarouzehi (Nehtani) who was also sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Four executed in Rasht


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Four men were executed for drug-related charges in Rasht Central Prison.

According to Iran Human Rights, four men were executed in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 4 May. The identity of one has been established as 23-year-old Jalaledin Rahimian Azar from Mahabad.

Iran Human Rights is working to verify the identities of the other three men.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Man executed in Torbat Jam


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 5, 2023: Edris Gorgij, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Torbat Jam Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Torbat Jam Prison on 4 May. His identity has been reported as 31-year-old Edris Gorgij who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court. Edris was a father of five and from Karim Abad in Zahedan.

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

Man executed in Birjand


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 4, 2023: Jaber Aminifar, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Birjand Central Prison. At least 14 Baluch people have been executed since 29 April.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Birjand Central Prison on 30 April. His identity has been reported as Jaber Aminifar from the village of Shoghalak who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Courts.

Three other Baluch minorities were executed at the prison that day. Abdullah Zarouzehi and co-defendants Mohammad Shibak and Madineh Sabzevan were also sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Since 30 April, at least 14 Baluch men and women have been executed in Zahedan, Birjand, Mashhad, Bandarabbas, Minab and Iranshahr prisons.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 5, 2023

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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

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