Iran | Executions in Qom, Zahedan, Yasuj, Urmia, Rafsanjan, Saqqez, Dehdasht, Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 10, 2023: Mehdi Nasiri and Abbas Ketabi were executed for drug-related charges in Qom Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least two men were executed in Qom Central Prison on 9 December. Their identities have been established as 41-year-old Mehdi Nasiri from Karaj and 47-year-old Abbas Ketabi from Qom.

Mehdi Nasiri was arrested for carrying 80 kilograms of heroin three years ago and Abbas Ketabi was arrested on the Qom-Arak road around five years ago. They were both sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

There are reports of more people being executed at the prison that day which Iran Human Rights is working to verify.

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.

2 Baluch Men Executed for Drug Charges in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 9, 2023: Abdolbaset Gorgij and Abdolaziz Shahlibar were executed for drug-related charges in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Haal Vsh, two Baluch men were executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 9 December. Their identities have been reported as 33-year-old Abdolbaset Gorgij from Zahedan and 34-year-old Abdolaziz (Haml) Shahlibar from Delgan.

They were both sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court. Abdolbaset was arrested around four years ago.

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 2-5% 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.

Man Executed in Yasuj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 9, 2023: Sadegh Ajdar, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Yasuj Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Yasuj Central Prison on 4 December. His identity has been established as Sadegh Ajdar who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

Sadegh was arrested around three years ago.

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.

3 Men Executed for Drug Charges in Urmia

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 8, 2023: Ali Shahinnejad, Solat Tousan and Janali Nadimi were executed for drug-related charges in Urmia Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Urmia Central Prison on 8 December. Their identities have been established as 39-year-old Ali Shahinnejad, Solat (Hamid) Tousan and Janali Nadimi (Dargahi).

All three men were Urmia and had been sentenced to death for drug-related charges in separate cases. They were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions on 6 December.

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

Two Executed in Sanandaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 7, 2023: Khaled Rouhi and Sirus Heidari, two men sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, were executed in Sanandaj Central Prison.

According to Hengaw, two men were executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on 6 December. Their identities have been reported as 60-year-old Khaled Rouhi and Sirus Heidari who were sentenced to qisas for murder. Khaled was on death row for 4 years and Sirus for 12 years.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Man Executed in Rafsanjan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 7, 2023: Amir Alikani, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Rafsanjan Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Rafsanjan Prison on 4 December. His identity has been established as Amir Alikhani who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

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

Man Executed for Rape in Saqqez

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 6, 2023: Kamal Elhami, a man sentenced to death for rape, was executed in Saqqez Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Saqqez Central Prison on 6 December. His identity has been established as 43-year-old Kamal Elhami who was arrested for rape charges five years ago.

He was sentenced to death for allegedly raping a conscript soldier.

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 Dehdasht

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 6, 2023: Zabihollah Arjmand, a man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Dehdasht Prison in Kohlgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Right, a man was executed in Dehdasht Prison on 6 December. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Zabihollah Arjmand who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

He said goodbye to his family in his last visit with them the day prior to his execution. According to informed sources Zabihollah was from a very poor family and the drugs found did not belong to him.

4 Men Executed for Drug Charges in Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 6, 2023: Four men were executed for drug-related charges in Karaj Penitentiary.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Karaj Penitentiary on 5 December. Their identities have been established as Manouchehr Barzegar and Mojtaba Amiri from Hall 3 who were both from Harsin and sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

HRANA news agency also reported the executions of Sasan Maleki and Mehdi Moradi at the prison that day. They were also on death row for drug-related charges.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, December 5-10, 2023

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