Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 22, 2024: Yousef Sobhani and Akbar Javadzadeh who were on death row for drug-related charges in the same case, were executed in Rasht Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Rasht Central Prison on 7 January. Their identities have been established as 40-year-old Yousef Sobhani and 35-year-old Akbar Javadzadeh, both Ardabil natives.
Yousef and Akbar were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court in the same case.
Despite two weeks passing, neither of their executions have 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.
Execution in Zahedan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 22, 2024: Hassan Gorgij, a Baluch man on death row for murder, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.
According to Haal Vsh, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 20 January. His identity has been established as 23-year-old Hassan Gorgij who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
He was arrested for murder 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.
2 Men Executed for Drug Charges in Rasht/80 Others Awaiting Gallows
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 21, 2024: Eslahollah Bakhsh, an Afghan national, and Hamid Ebadinejad were executed for drug-related charges in Rasht Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Rasht Central Prison on 18 January. Their identities have been established as 36-year-old Eslahollah Bakhsh (pictured left), an Afghan national, and Hamid Ebadinejad from Rasht who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court in different cases.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Eslahollah was arrested for drug charges two years ago and sentenced to death. Hamid Ebadinejad was arrested for drug charges around five years ago. He was from a Rasht village and was accused of making methamphetamine in a kitchen.”
“There are currently around 80 prisoners on death row for drug-related charges in Rasht Central Prison who are scheduled to be executed in the next 2-3 weeks,” the source added.
Eslahollah is the third Afghan national to be executed in 2024.
Two other men were reportedly executed at the prison that day which IHRNGO has not been able to independently verify.
At the time of writing, neither of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
3 executed in Isfahan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 21, 2024: Nouri Zamani, Fathollah Jourkesh and Hosseinali Koutahi were executed for drug-related charges in Isfahan Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Isfahan Central Prison (Dastgerd) on 20 January. Their identities have been established as 32-year-old Nouri Zamani (pictured right) from Lahijan, 30-year-old Fathollah Jourkesh from Isfahan and Hosseinali Koutahi.
They were all sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court in different cases.
At the time of writing, none of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Man executed in Mashhad
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 20, 2024: State media have reported the execution of an unnamed man for murder in Mashhad Central Prison.
According to Etemad Online, a man was executed in Mashhad Central Prison (Vakil Abad) on 17 January. The 29-year-old man only identified as Ali. M was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
The report states that he was accused of killing a customer while selling illegal arms.
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, as the plaintiffs, are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.
Man executed in Qom
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 19, 2024: Eslam Amanedini, an Afghan man on death row for murder, was executed in Qom Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, an Afghan man was executed in Qom Central Prison on 17 January. His identity has been established as 29-year-old Eslam Amanedini from Kandouz who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Eslam Amanedini was arrested for murder three years ago. He worked as security for a company building prior to arrest and had killed one of the workers during an argument.”
Eslam Amanedini is the second Afghan national to be executed in 2024.
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Source:
Iran Human Rights, Staff, January 19-22, 2024
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