Iran | Executions in Kermanshah, Arak

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 11, 2023: Bakhtiar Cheraghi, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Kermanshah (Dizel Abad) Central Prison on 11 July. His identity has been established as Bakhtiar Cheraghi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Bakhtiar Cheraghi was accused of killing a gold seller from Javanroud named Abdollah Veisi.”

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.

2 Unidentified Men Executed for Drug Charges in Arak

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 11, 2023: Two unidentified men were executed for drug-related charges in Arak Central Prison.

According to HRANA news agency, two men were executed in Arak Central Prison on 9 July. The two unidentified men are reported to have been 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.

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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 11, 2023

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