Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 30, 2023: A November 2019 protester named Kamran Rezaei has been executed in Shiraz Central Prison. In the last week, a “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester, a Kurdish political prisoner and a 1980s political prisoner were executed in Iran.
Condemning Kamran Rezaei’s execution, Iran Human Rights warns of more protester and political prisoner executions.
Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Political prisoners including protesters are at serious risk of execution. Further silence from the international community is not acceptable. The current leaders of the Islamic Republic have a history of massacring political prisoners and committing crimes against humanity. It is only the high political cost from the international community that has prevented them from repeating these atrocities.”
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Kamran Rezaei, a 32-year-old protester was executed in Shiraz Central Prison (Adel Abad) on 30 November. He was arrested during the November 2019 nationwide protests and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for the murder of an IRGC officer. It is not clear whether he had other charges like moharebeh in his case or just murder.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Kamran Rezaei was arrested for killing a basiji (IRGC forces) with a machete during the November 2019 nationwide protests. He was held in solitary confinement for 7 months and forced to make self-incriminating confessions under torture. He was tortured so much that Kamran said he had blood in his urine for a long time afterwards and had also sustained damage to his right ear. He always said he was innocent and would be released.”
“Kamran lost his father when he was 8 and lived with his step-mother. He didn’t have any family or anyone that cared to do anything for him or publicise his case,” the source added.
Kamran Rezaei was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution on Tuesday (28 November) after the evening headcount.
IHRNGO previously reported the executions of political prisoner (Geda) Ali Saber Motlagh in Rasht Central Prison on 25 November, protester Milad Zohrevand who was arrested at the 40th day anniversary of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, in Hamedan Central Prison on 23 November and Kurdish political prisoner Ayoub Karimi in Ghezelhesar Prison on 29 November.
Two executed in Zahedan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 30, 2023: Naser Alizehi and Naser Ozbakzehi, two Baluch men on death row for drug-related charges, were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.
According to Haal Vsh, two Baluch men were executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 30 November. Their identities have been reported as 27-year-old Naser Alizehi (pictured right) and 22-year-old Naser Ozbakzehi (Rakhshani) who were both from Zahedan and had been sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
Naser Alizehi who maintained his innocence in court, was arrested in Zahedan on 19 November 2021. Naser Ozbakzehi was arrested around two 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.
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 hanged in Khorramabad
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 29, 2023: Moradkhan Geravand was executed for drug-related charges in Khorramabad Central Prison. IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Morad Biranvand at the prison that day.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison on 29 November. His identity has been established as 39-year-old Moradkhan Geravand who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Moradkhan Geravand was from Touh Khoshkeh village in Kouhdasht. He was arrested and sentenced to death for drug charges five years ago but the drugs weren’t his, they were discovered on someone else.”
IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Morad Biranvand at the prison, bringing the number of executions at Khorramabad Central Prison to two today..
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Man executed in Kashan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 29, 2023: A prisoner named Massoud Basak has been executed for drug-related charges in Kashan Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Kashan Prison on 29 November. His identity has been established as 33-year-old Massoud Basak who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
Informed sources told Iran Human Rights that he was arrested for drug charges around two years ago.
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Execution in Ilam
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 29, 2023: Ali Agha Mohammadi and Naser Maghsoudi were executed for murder charges in Ilam Central Prison. IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Shahram Mohammadbeigi at the prison that day.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two more men were executed in Ilam Central Prison on 28 November. Their identities have been established as 45-year-old Ali Agha Mohammadi and 40-year-old Naser Maghsoudi who were both sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Ali Agha Mohammadi was arrested for his wife’s murder last year and sentenced to qisas. Naser Maghsoudi was arrested for murder around five years ago and sentenced to death.”
IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Shahram Mohammadbeigi at the prison, bringing the number of executions at Ilam Central Prison to three yesterday.
At the time of writing, none of their executions have 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.
Two hanged in Karaj
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 29, 2023: Eghbal Fathollahi and Mohsen Amrayi were executed for drug-related charges in Ghezelhesar Prison. Two other men were returned to the general population after obtaining last minute extensions in their case.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least two men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison on 28 November. Their identities have been established as Eghbal Fathollahi and Mohsen Amrayi who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.
The two prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in a group of five on 27 November. The other three men who are on death row for murder, were returned to their cells after obtaining extensions from the plaintiffs in the case.
At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Source:
Iran Human Rights, Staff, November 29-30, 2023
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