Iran | Executions in Zabol, Zahedan, Birjand,Qom

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 1, 2023: Massoud Eshaghzehi, an Afghan national sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Zabol Prison.

According to Hal Vash, an Afghan national was executed in Zabol Prison on 1 August. His identity has been reported as 30-year-old Massoud Eshaghzehi, a father of two.

Massoud was arrested for drug-related charges around two years ago and sentenced to death by the Zabol Revolutionary Court. He was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution the night prior.

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

It is important to note that Afghan nationals constitute the largest group of non-Iranian executions and death row cases in Iranian prisons. In 2021, no execution of Afghan nationals was recorded until September, when five men were executed in the space of 35 days. On 10 October 2021, Iran Human Rights expressed its concern that the Taliban takeover in August had facilitated the execution of Afghan nationals. That number more than tripled in 2022, with 16 Afghan nationals including a juvenile offender and a woman executed. At least 12 Afghans have been executed in 2023 so far, with two publicly hanged on 8 July.

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year for the past three years. 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 Qom

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 1, 2023: Hamid Asgarinia was executed for rape charges in Qom Central Prison.

According to HRANA news agency, a man was executed in Qom Central Prison on 30 July. His identity has been reported as Hamid Asgarinia from Arak.

He was arrested for charges of rape, kidnapping and robbery and transferred to Saveh Prison. He was later transferred to Qom Central Prison where he was executed for the rape charges.

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

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.

Three executed in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 1, 2023: Hossein Gomashadzehi, Yousef Kalbali and an unidentified Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, three Baluch men were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 1 August. Two of the men’s identities have been reported as 72-year-old Hossein Gomshadzehi and 30-year-old Yousef Kalbali. The third man’s identity has not been established at the time of writing.

Hossein Gomshadzehi was a farmer and had been married twice with 23 children. He had denied the charges in court, stating that he had been framed for the drugs found in an abandoned building on his farm.

An informed source said: “Hossein was arrested for drug-related charges in Zabol around five years ago and sentenced to death by the Zabol Revolutionary Court. He was transferred from Zabol Prison to Zahedan Central Prison 28 days ago and transferred to solitary confinement from Ward 7 of the prison. He was executed this morning without his family being notified and the last visit with them.”

Yousef Kalbali was from the village of Deh Deraz in Zahak county. He was a father of three who was arrested around two years ago

At the time of writing, none of their executions have 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. Furthermore, in the first six months of 2023, 20% of the at least 354 executions were Baluch people.

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 hanged in Birjand

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 1, 2023: Farhad Badrouzeh, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was secretly executed in Birjand Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was secretly executed in Birjand Prison on 31 July. His identity has been reported as Farhad Badrouzeh, a father of two from Zahak.

Farhad was arrested around six years ago for drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Birjand Revolutionary Court. His execution was carried out without his family being notified and the right to a last visit.

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

Afghan nationals hanged on Zabol

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 31, 2023: Mohammad Arbab and Asadollah Amini, two Afghan nationals and Baluch minorities sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were secretly executed in Zabol Prison.

According to Hal Vash, two Afghan men were secretly executed in Zabol Prison on 30 and 31 July. Their identities have been reported as 30-year-old Mohammad Arbab and 32-year-old Asadollah Amini, both Baluch and from Nimrouz in Afghanistan.

Mohammad Arbab’s death penalty was carried out on 30 July and Assadollah Amini was executed the next day.

Both men were arrested around two years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Zabol Revolutionary Court. Their executions were carried out without their families being notified and the right to have a last visit to say goodbye.

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

Four Baluch men hanged in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 31, 2023: Shahsavar Shahriari, Saeed Barahouyi , Ali Barahouyi and Khodarahm Mohammadani, four Baluch men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, 4 Baluch men were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 30 and 31 July. Their identities have been reported as 53-year-old Shahsavar Shahriari (Palangi), 38-year-old Saeed Barahouyi (Aref), 39-year-old Ali Barahouyi (Khan Mohammad) and 55-year-old Khodarahm Mohammadani (Latif).

Shahsavar was executed on 30 July and the other three men were executed on 31 July. They were all sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Another Baluch man, Bidollah Gorgij was also previously reported as being secretly executed at the same prison on 30 July.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 31/August 1, 2023

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