Iran | Executions in Gorgan, Sanandaj, Kahnuj, Ilam

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 22, 2023: State media have reported the execution of an unidentified man for murder in Gorgan.

According to Iran Online, a man was executed in Gorgan. The report which was published on 20 June, does not specify the date or exact location of the execution. The man only named as Hamed, is alleged to have committed murder on Hashem Abad Street on 28 May 2021.

According to the 2022 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 582 people were executed in Iran. Of those, 288 were executed for murder charges.

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 Sanandaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 21, 2023: Hemen Mostafayi, a Kurdish man sentenced to death for the murder of an IRGC officer, has been executed in Sanandaj Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a Kurdish man executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on 21 June. His identity has been established as 33-year-old Hemen Mostafayi from Marivan. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source previously told Iran Human Rights: “Hemen was arrested for the murder of an IRGC officer in February/March 2013 and sentenced to death. He accepted the charges after being subjected to months of hard torture and interrogations.”

Hemen was previously transferred for execution on 31 December 2020 which was postponed due to civil society backlash and the victim’s family agreeing. Iran Human Rights reported his transfer yesterday

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

According to the 2022 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 582 people were executed in Iran. Of those, 288 were executed for murder charges.

Man Executed in Kahnuj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 20, 2023: Danesh Salari, a Baluch man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Kahnuj Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Kahnuj Prison on 19 June. His identity has been reported as 24-year-old Danesh Salari from Koulgan village in Roudbar.

He was arrested for murder around three years ago in Kahnuj and sentenced to qisas for murder by the city’s Criminal Court.

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

Four Men Executed for Drug Charges in Kerman

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 20, 2023: Four men including three Baluch minorities, were executed for drug-related charges in Kerman Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, four men including three Baluch men were executed in Kerman Central Prison on 18 June. The three Baluch men’s identities have been reported as” Gholam Mir from Zabol and a Zahedan native, Mohammad Sepahi from Saravan and 35-year-old Fazl Ahmad Ghafran (AKA Yousef Rakhshani).

Mohammad Sepahi had three children and Fazl Ahmad Ghafran was a father of two.

The report does not specify the name or charges against the fourth man.

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

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 for Murder in Ilam

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 20, 2023: Aref Havas has been executed for murder in Ilam Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Ilam Central Prison on 20 June. His identity has been established as Aref Havasi from the Malekshahi tribe in Ilam. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Aref Havasi was arrested two years ago for a murder committed during a group fight in Chardaval and sentenced to death.”

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, June 20-22, 2023

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