Iran | Executions in Khorramabad, Taybad

Iran Human Rights (IHNRGO); December 22, 2023: Taher Davabi was executed for murder charges in Khorramabad Central Prison. Two drug death row inmates have also been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison in Lorestan province on 18 December. His identity has been established as 43-year-old Taher Davabi from Sabzevar who was married with two children.

Informed sources told IHRNGO that Taher was accused of killing someone at his work in Khorramabad three years ago. He maintained that it was not premeditated and he had entered the fight out of anger.

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

On 21 December, two other men were also transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions at the prison. Their identities have been established as 40-year-old Hossein Payi and 50-year-old Karamollah Lorestani, both Boroujerd natives.

Hossein Payi was arrested for possession of 50 kilograms of heroin around five years ago. Karamollah Lorestani was arrested four years ago. They were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

Yesterday, IHRNGO warned of more drug executions being carried out after an Iranian MP stated that the cases of 1000-2000 drug death row inmates were at implementation stage in Lorestan province.

Man executed in Taybad

Iran Human Rights (IHNRGO); December 22, 2023: A drug death row inmate named Mohammad Saleh Amini was executed in Taybad Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Taybad Prison in Khorasan Razavi province on 21 December. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Mohammad Saleh Amini who was a chicken farm worker prior to arrest.

Mohammad Saleh Amini was arrested for drug-related charges two years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Yesterday, IHRNGO warned of more drug executions being carried out after an Iranian MP stated that the cases of 1000-2000 drug death row inmates were at implementation stage.

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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, December 22, 2023

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