Emphasising the inhumanity of the death penalty, Iran Human Rights condemns Ghasem Abasteh’s death sentence based on torture-tainted forced confessions and execution. Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Ghasem Abasteh’s execution has no legal basis even according to the Islamic Republic’s own laws and is an extrajudicial state murder. Ali Khamenei and the repressive institutions under his command must be held accountable for this crime.”
“The judiciary of the Islamic Republic demonstrates even greater disregard for the law in cases involving ethnic minorities, where they make no effort to even maintain a lawful appearance,” he added.
According to IHRNGO statistics, more than 90% of those executed for security-related charges (moharebeh, efsad-fil-arz and baghy) in the last 13 years were Kurdish (51%), Baluch (28%) and Arab (15%).
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Kurdish-Sunni political prisoner Ghasem Abasteh was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on 5 November. Iran Human Rights previously reported his transfer to solitary confinement and warned of his imminent execution.
Ghasem Abasteh was sentenced to death for charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) through “armed resistance and membership in a Salafi jihadi group” in a case with seven defendants by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in February/March 2016. One of their charges related to the death of a Sunni cleric named Mamousta Abdolrahim Tina.
The sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court and sent to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for retrial. On 17 June 2017, they were resentenced to death by the Court presided over by “death judge” Salavati. Their death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court 3 February 2020.
One of Ghasem Abasteh’s relatives told IHRNGO: “The seven prisoners were physically and mentally tortured to extract forced confessions. Despite years passing, the signs of torture were still visible on Ghasem’s body.”
Ghasem was arrested in January 2010 along with Anwar Khezri, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Kamran Sheikheh and Ayoub Karimi. They were interrogated in Urmia before being transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. They were subsequently transferred to Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison in Karaj where they were held until its closure in August when they were transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison.
An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “These seven prisoners were expelled from the Mahabad Salafi group for drinking alcohol exactly 8 months prior to their arrest. They were accused of killing Mamousta Abdolrahim Tina after their expulsion.”
“Ghasem Abasteh and the other six men repeatedly denied any involvement in Mamousta’s death and said they’d already been expelled at that time. The only reason we met with them is the 1 million tomans they paid. In prison, they weren’t even allowed to pray next to the Salafi prisoners because they were completely rejected by this group. Ghasem was the last defendant in the case, so the other six men’s families are worried that they may be executed soon,” the source added.
Baluch Brothers Saeed and Esmail Alizehi Secretly Executed in Zahedan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 5, 2023: Saeed and Esmail Alizehi, two Baluch brothers sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison.
According to Hal Vash, two Baluch men were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 4 November. Their identities have been reported as 25-year-old Saeed Alizehi and 29-year-old Esmail Alizehi from Zabol who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges. Esmail was a construction worker prior to arrest.
The Alizehi brothers’ execution was carried out without their family being notified and the chance to say goodbye.
An informed source said: “Esmail and Saeed were arrested for drug charges in the Zabol border region around two years ago but no drugs were ever found. The agents intentionally trumped up the charges. Even in court, the two brothers vehemently denied the charges but the judge ignored their defence and sentenced them to death. They’d recently been transferred from Zabol Prison to Zahedan Central Prison and were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions on 2nd November.”
At the time of writing, their executions have 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, at least 274 Baluch people have been executed for drug-related charges since 2021, 40% of all drug executions in that time period.
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.
Execution in Arak
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 4, 2023: Hossein Golmohammadi, a man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Arak Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Arak Central Prison on 2 November. His identity has been established as 30-year-old Hossein Golmohammadi from Arak.
He was arrested for drug-related charges around four years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Prior to arrest, he owned a gym.
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
At least three men executed in Shiraz
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 4, 2023: At least three men including Shahab Sadeghzadeh, Mansour Taghvayi and Heidar Salkhordeh were executed in Shiraz Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least three men were executed in Shiraz Central Prison on 30 October. Three of the men’s identities have been established as 31-year-old Shahab Sadeghzadeh, 35-year-old Mansour Taghvayi, both Arsanjan natives and Heidar Salkhordeh from Shiraz.
According to Hengaw which first published news of Shahab and Mansour’s executions, the two men were arrested and sentenced to death in the same case. They were accused of carrying 85 kilograms of methamphetamine and heroine.
Heidar Salkhordeh was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.
At the time of writing, their executions have 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, as the plaintiffs, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.
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