Iran | Executions in Gilan, Gorgan, Taybad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 24, 2024: State media reported the execution of Hadi Mirgozar for murder charges at an unspecified prison.

According to Haft Sobh newspaper, a man was executed on 10 April. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for the murder of a woman named Elham Sarlatibut the exact location of his execution has not been specified in the report.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “The executed man was named Hadi Mirgozar and he was executed in a Gilan province prison.”

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 are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

In 2023, at least 282 people including two juvenile offenders and 15 women, were executed for murder charges, the second highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Only 20% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2023, Iran Human Rights also recorded 857 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.

Man executed in Gorgan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 24, 2024: Hossein Ali Sobhani, a man on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in Gorgan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Gorgan Central Prison on 23 April. His identity has been established as 37-year-old Hossein Ali Sobhani from Sari who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Hossein Ali Sobhani was arrested in October 2021 and sentenced to death.”

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

Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year since 2021. According to IHRNGO’s 2023 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 471 people were executed for drug-related charges, an 84% increase compared to 2022 (256) and about 18 times the average of drug-related executions in 2018-2020.

On 10 April 2024, 80+ Iranian and international organisations and groups called for joint action to stop drug-related executions, urging UNODC to make “any cooperation with the Islamic Republic contingent on a complete halt on drug-related executions."

3 Men Including Afghan National Executed in Taybad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); April 24, 2024: Amin Mohammadpour, Esmail Esmailzadeh and an unidentified Afghan man were executed for drug-related charges in Taybad Prison. At least ten Afghan nationals have been executed in Iranian prisons in 2024, constituting 8% of all executions.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least three men were executed in Taybad Prison in Khorasan Razavi province on 21 April. Two of the men’s identities have been established as 38-year-old Mohammad Amin Mohammadpour from Kish and 35-year-old Esmail Esmailzadeh (photo) from Taybad. They were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

The identity of the third man who was an Afghan national has not been established at the time of writing

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Mohammad Amin Mohammadpour was a father of two who was arrested for drug charges three years ago. Esmail Esmailzadeh was arrested for the same charges four years ago.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, April 24, 2024

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