Iran | Executions in Gonbad Kavous, Khorramabad, Zahedan, Aligudarz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 20, 2023: Mohammad Ali Vahidi, a Baluch man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Gonbad Kavous Prison.

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Gonbad Kavous Prison, in Golestan province on 19 October. His identity has been reported as 56-year-old Mohammad Ali Vahidi who was a retired teacher from the Dahmardeh tribe in Kalaleh, Golestan.

Mohammad Ali was arrested for murder around five years ago and sentenced to qisas for murder. He was transferred from the general ward the day prior to his execution.

At the time of writing, his execution has 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. Furthermore, in the first six months of 2023, 20% of the at least 354 executions were Baluch people.

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.

Two executed in Khorramabad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 19, 2023: Vahid Kakavand and Fathollah Rashnu, two men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were executed in Khorramabad Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Khorramabad Central Prison in Lorestan province on 19 October. Their identities have been established as Vahid Kakavand and Fathollah Rashnu who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

A prisoner named Vahid Rashidi Garavand was also executed for the same charges in Aligudarz Prison in the same province this morning.

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 305 people were executed for drug-related charges between 1 January-10 October 2023, a 69% increase compared to the same period in 2022, and the number of drug-related executions in 2023 were close to 20 times higher than 2020.

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. On 13 September 2023, IHRNGO reported a 94% rise in the number of drug-related executions in the year following the start of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in September 2022.

Man executed in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 19, 2023: A man only identified as Khodabakhsh was executed for rape charges in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Hal Vash, at least one Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 18 October. His identity has been reported as Khodabkhash (surname unknown), who was around 27 and sentenced to death for rape charges.

An informed source said: “Khodabakhsh was arrested for rape charges in Saravan on 3 August 2022 and sentenced to death. He was transferred from the general ward of Zahedan Central Prison on 17 October and his sentence carried out this morning.”

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.

Man executed in Aligudarz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 19, 2023: Vahid Rashidi Garavand, a man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Aligudarz Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least one man was executed in Aligudarz Prison in Lorestan province on 19 October. His identity has been established as Vahid Rashidi Garavand who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

There are reports that at least one other man was executed along with Vahid which IHRNGO has not been able to verify at the time of writing. It continues to investigate the reports.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, October 19-20, 2023

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