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U.S. Presidential Election 2024: Death penalty absent from campaign, but not from minds

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Kamala Harris, once openly opposed to the death penalty despite political costs, now avoids the topic as a candidate. Meanwhile, Donald Trump advocates tougher criminal policies, though presidential authority in this area is limited. A few blocks from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the intersection of Spring Street and Belvidere Street now presents a completely different view. Where once stood a grim, old brick building, there is now a modern building with a glass facade reflecting the sun shining on Virginia’s capital. Trees along the wide Belvidere Street give the neighborhood a promenade-like feel, with the James River flowing nearby along the memorial for American war dead.

Iran | Execution in Qom; At Least 10 at Imminent Risk of Execution in Birjand, Urmia and Sanandaj

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 23, 2024: Hassan Falahi, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Qom Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Qom Central Prison on 22 July. His identity has been established as Hassan Falahi, a 30-year-old from Meshkindasht in Karaj.

He was arrested for the murder of his brother-in-law three years ago and sentenced to qisas for murder.

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 10 People at Imminent Risk of Execution in Birjand, Urmia and Sanandaj


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 23, 2024: At least ten people including three women have been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions in Birjand, Urmia and Sanandaj prisons. 

At least 12 people have been executed in Iranian prisons in the last week.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least ten people have been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions. Of the ten, seven are men and three women.

Five men and three women are in Birjand Prison, one man in Urmia Central Prison and one man in Sanandaj Central Prison. They have been sentenced to death for drug-related and murder charges in separate cases and are scheduled to be executed in the coming hours.

At least 12 people have been executed in Iranian prisons in the last week. Iran Human Rights warned of the new wave of post-election executions on 3 July.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 23, 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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