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Japan | Hakamada found religion, but then felt under attack by ‘the devil’

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Editor's note: This is the last in a four-part series on letters that Iwao Hakamada wrote while on death row. About a decade after cursing God, Iwao Hakamada was baptized Catholic at the Tokyo Detention House on Dec. 24, 1984. “Since I have been given the Christian name Paul, I am keenly feeling that I should be aware of the greatness of Paul.” (June 1985)

Iran | Executions in Zanjan, Tabriz, Qazvin, Ardabil

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 4, 2024: Sohrab Rafieian and Morteza Azimi, two co-defendants on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in Zanjan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Zanjan Central Prison on 28 April. Their identities have been established as 35-year-old Sohrab Rafieian and 40-year-old Morteza Azimi who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court in the same case.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Sohrab Rafieian and Morteza Azimi were both from Zanjan and had been arrested for carrying 60kg of heroin and opium around three years ago. Morteza had a son with physical disabilities.”

At the time of writing, their executions have 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.”


Four executed in Tabriz


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 3, 2024: Mohammad Rasoul Khoshkar, Saeed Ranjdoust, Saber Aminabadi and Mehdi Habibi were executed for murder and drug charges in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, four men were executed in Tabriz Central Prison 2nd May. Three of the men were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder. Their identities have been established Mohammad Rasoul Khoshkar and Saeed Ranjdoust, both 53, and Saber Aminabadi.

The fourth executed man was on death row for drug-related charges. His identity has been established as 40-year-old Mehdi Habibi.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Mohammad Rasoul Khoshkar was arrested for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl and received the death penalty for both charges. But as the victim’s family were present at the execution, it appears that the qisas sentence was carried out.”

“Saeed Ranjdoust was arrested for murder around five years ago and sentenced to qisas. He was carpet weaver from Tabriz with three young children and also took care of two orphans. Saber Aminabadi was arrested for an honour killing three years ago. Mehdi Habibi was arrested for drug charges three years ago.

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

Man executed in Qazvin


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 3, 2024: Nasir Hariri, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed Qazvin Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Qazvin Central Prison (Choobindar) on 1st May. His identity has been established as 38-year-old Nasir Hariri who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Nasir Hariri was arrested for allegedly killing a baker with a scale stone three years ago and sentenced to qisas.”

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, 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.

At least 63 people have been executed in Iranian prisons in the second fortnight of April and at least 171 people including six women were executed between January-April 2024.

Execution in Ardabil


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 3, 2024: Yaghoub Amiri, a man on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in Ardabil Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Ardabil Central Prison on 2nd May. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Yaghoub Amiri who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Yaghoub Amir was arrested on the Sarcham to Ardabil road with 40kg of methamphetamines (shisheh) around four years ago.”

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, May 3-4, 2024

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde



Location: Iran
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