Iran | Executions in Dezful, Zanjan, Kermanshah, Hamedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 19, 2023: State media have reported the execution of an unnamed man for rape during the course of a robbery in Dezful Prison.

According to ISNA, a man was executed in Dezful Prison in Khuzestan province. His identity and the exact date of the execution has not been specified.

Mehdi Amadeh, the Dezful Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor said: “In July 2017, this individual entered a citizen’s house with the intention of robbery and committed rape.”

In cases of rape, there is a high chance of defendants being tortured to make false confessions, which is used to issue death sentences. In Iran is one of the few countries in the world that issues the death penalty for rape. A lot of cases are also rushed without the defendants having access to a lawyer.

According to the 2022 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 23 people were executed for rape charges in 2022 compared to 10 in 2021 and 12 in 2020.

Two executed in Zanjan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 19, 2023: Faramarz Nezami and Asghar Rahimian were executed for drug-related charges in Zanjan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Zanjan Central Prison in on 17 July. Their identities have been established as 40-year-old Faramarz Nezami and Asghar Rahimian. They were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Faramarz Nezami was from Azarshahr and had been arrested three years ago. He was a farmer prior to arrest. Asghar Rahimian was from Jolfa and arrested around four years ago.”

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

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year for the past three years. At least 206 people were executed for drug-related charges in the first six months of 2023, a 126% rise compared to the same period in 2022 when 91 were executed. 40 people were executed in the same period in 2021.

The number of drug executions dramatically dropped in 2018 following a 2017 Amendment to the Anti-Narcotics Laws. Consequently, drug executions ranged between 24-30 per annum between 2018-2020. The Amendment was reversed in practice in 2021 when executions increased ten-fold to 126 in 2021 and doubled again in 2022 with 256 drug-related executions.

Man executed in Kermanshah

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 19, 2023: Habibollah Ilkhani who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, has been executed in Kermanshah Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison on 18 July. His identity has been established as 50-year-old Habibollah Ilkhani who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

Hengaw which broke news of his execution reported that Habibollah was a teacher prior to being arrested for an honour killing more than 12 years ago.

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.

Men executed in Hamedan

ran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 19, 2023: Amad Moghadam and Saeed Almasi were executed for drug-related charges in Hamedan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Hamedan Central Prison in on 18 July. Their identities have been established as 35-year-old Ahmad Moghadam and 40-year-old Saeed Almasi (pictured). They were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Ahmad Moghadam was from Tabriz and had one child. He was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death. Saeed Almasi was from Harsin in Kermanshah and also had one child. He’d been arrested and sentenced to death seven years ago.”

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 19, 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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