Iran | Executions in Zahedan, Sari, Sanandaj, Kerman, Kahnuj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 22, 2023: A Baluch man only identified as Mr Mir was executed for drug-related charges in Zahedan Central Prison. Four other Baluch men were executed at the prison that day and he is the seventh reported Baluch execution in Iran that day.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 21 August. He has only been identified as Mr Mir who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Four other Baluch men were reported to have been executed at the prison for the same charges that day. Their identities were reported as 29-year-old Abdolsamad Khadem from Zahak, Yaghoub Ejbari (photo), a father of eight from the village of Gharghouk in Zahedan, Mohammad Anwar Barahouyi from Zahedan and Esmail Ghanbarzehi.

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.

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 Sari

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 22, 2023: Mousa Afkhami, a man sentenced to death for murder, was executed in Sari Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Sari Central Prison on 20 August. His identity has been established as 48-year-old Mousa Afkhami who was sentenced to qisas(retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Informed sources told Iran Human Rights that Mousa was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death. He was from Lahijan and had two children.

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, as the plaintiffs, are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

Man Executed in Sanandaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 22, 2023: State media have reported the execution of Shouresh Morovati, a Kurdish man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder in the course of an armed robbery, in Sanandaj Central Prison.

According to the Judiciary’s Mizan news agency, a man was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on 22 August. His identity has been reported as Gholamreza (Shouresh) Morovati who was sentenced to qisas for murder in the course of an armed robbery.

The Kurdistan province Chief Justice said: “With the Saqqez police’s actions, the defendant was arrested after nine months and sent to prison. The defendant was sentenced to qisas following his trial. This sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.”

Iran Human Rights previously warned of Shouresh Morovati’s imminent execution.

An informed source previously told Iran Human Rights: “Shouresh Morovati was from Saqqez and arrested for an armed robbery that led to a murder in 2009 and sentenced to qisas for murder. Shouresh was one of the prisoners who escaped during the Saqqez Prison unrest (due to prison authorities not taking measures against Covid-19) in the spring of 2020. He was transferred to Sanadaj Central Prison after being rearrested.”

“Shouresh was subjected to months of torture in the Sanandaj intelligence detention centre, the signs of which are still visible on his body,” the source added.

Ethnic minorities are grossly overrepresented in execution numbers in Iran.

Man Executed in Kahnuj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 21, 2023: Rasoul Narouyi, a Baluch man sentenced to death for murder, was executed in Kahnuj Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Kahnuj Prison on 21 August. His identity has been reported as 29-year-old Rasoul Narouyi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

He was arrested around four years ago. He was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution along with another prisoner named Mehdi Bameri the day prior to execution. 28-year-old Mehdi Bameri who is also on death row for murder, was returned to his cell after being granted a two-month extension by the plaintiffs.

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

Two Executed in Kerman

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 21, 2023: Saeed Rigi, a Baluch man, and Abdolghafour Toumaj, a Turkmen minority, were executed for drug-related charges in Kerman Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, two men were executed in Kerman Central Prison on 21 August. Their identities have been reported as 40-year-old Saeed Rigi, a Baluch man from Zahedan and Abdolghafour Toumaj, a Turkmen man from Gorgan.

Both men were arrested for drug-related charges in separate cases around three years ago and sentenced to death by the Kerman Revolutionary Court. They were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions on 19 August.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, August 21-22, 2023

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