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U.S. | 'I comfort death row inmates in their final moments - the execution room is like a house of horrors'

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Reverend Jeff Hood, 40, wants to help condemned inmates 'feel human again' and vows to continue his efforts to befriend murderers in spite of death threats against his family A reverend who has made it his mission to comfort death row inmates in their final days has revealed the '"moral torture" his endeavor entails. Reverend Dr. Jeff Hood, 40, lives with his wife and five children in Little Rock, Arkansas. But away from his normal home life, he can suddenly find himself holding the shoulder of a murderer inside an execution chamber, moments away from the end of their life. 

Iran’s Execution Spree Continues

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On Saturday, human rights groups reported the execution of ten individuals in Iran, highlighting the country’s troubling rate of capital punishment. 

Two women were executed for separate crimes, while eight men faced execution on drug-related charges.

This incident underscores Iran’s position as a global leader in executions, particularly for drug offenses.

Details of the Executions:


The human rights media reported that Parvin Mousavi, a 53-year-old woman from Maragheh, and Fatemeh Abdollahi were executed in prisons located in Urmia and Neishabour, respectively. Abdollahi was convicted of deliberate murder, while details surrounding Mousavi’s charges remain unclear.

Eight men were also executed on drug-related charges. These individuals, identified as Ramin Lundi (27, Urmia), Mansour Naseri (45, Bukan), Yousef Saidi Chehreh (30, Urmia), Parviz Qasemi (Urmia), a prisoner with the Jabali surname from Tabriz, Asghar Hajizadeh (Salmas), and two unnamed individuals from Mahabad and Khargoosh village (Salmas), had all received sentences of four to five years in prison. However, a recent escalation in executions saw them transferred to solitary confinement on May 16th for their imminent deaths.

A History of High Executions:


Iran has a long history of utilizing the death penalty, with a particular focus on drug-related offenses. According to Amnesty International, at least 853 people were executed in Iran during 2023. This figure represents a significant increase, particularly in drug-related executions, compared to previous years. 

Amnesty International attributes this rise to a stricter anti-drug policy implemented by the Iranian government following the 2022 protests.

The Devastating Impact on Women:


Iran’s execution rate extends tragically to women. The death of Fatemeh Abdollahi marks the tenth woman executed in Iran in 2024 alone. 

This grim statistic builds upon a disturbing trend, with at least 219 women executed in the country since 2010. 

Iran’s execution of women is particularly concerning in light of its global leadership in this area.

A Call for International Action:


Amnesty International’s report, titled “Don’t Let Them Kill Us,” emphasizes the urgency of international action to stop the escalating number of executions in Iran. 

The report criticizes the Iranian government’s policies, stating that prisons have become sites of mass killings under current practices. Furthermore, the report warns of the disproportionate impact these executions have on poor and marginalized communities.

Conclusion:


The recent executions in Iran highlight the country’s concerning use of the death penalty. 

The rise in executions, particularly those related to drugs, coupled with the targeting of women, raises serious human rights concerns. 

International pressure is necessary to compel Iran to move away from this barbaric practice and pursue a more humane approach to criminal justice.

Source: irannewsupdate.com, Staff, May 18, 2024

_____________________________________________________________________








"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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