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Activists Call on President Biden to End the Federal Death Penalty Before Leaving Office

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A conversation with Death Penalty Action Co-founder and Executive Director Abe Bonowitz. Now that Joe Biden is a lame duck president, activists are holding him accountable to make good on his promise to end the federal death penalty during his remaining six months as president. Biden’s election campaign in 2020 had pledged to end the federal death penalty and incentivize the remaining 27 states that still allow executions to do the same. While he made history as the first president in the United States to openly oppose the death penalty, there has been no movement to actually end federal executions during his nearly four years in office.

Iran | Executions in Karaj, Kermanshah, Shiraz

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 22, 2024: The execution of four prisoners, including a Baluch citizen and two Afghan nationals who were convicted of "drug-related charges" or "premeditated murder," was carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to information received by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), on the morning of Sunday, July 21, the execution of four men was carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. Two of these prisoners, identified as Davood Barahouyi and Mehdi Aliakbari Fard, were sentenced to death on "drug-related charges."

An informed source regarding the execution of these two prisoners told Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO): "Davood Barahouyi was a Baluch citizen from Zahedan and a father of eight children. Mehdi Aliakbari Fard was arrested on July 14, 2021, on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to death."

The identities of the two other prisoners, who were Afghan nationals sentenced to death for "premeditated murder," have not been confirmed at the time of this report.

The execution of these four prisoners has not been announced by Iranian domestic media or official sources at the time of this report.

The execution of prisoners on "drug-related charges" has seen a significant and continuous increase over the past four years. In 2023, compared to 2022, which saw 256 executions for drug-related charges, there was an 84% increase, with 471 executions recorded for such charges.

Execution in Kermanshah


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 22, 2024: The execution of a prisoner named Danial Kazeminejad, who was sentenced to death for the "premeditated murder of an IRGC member," was carried out in Kermanshah Central Prison (Dizelabad).

According to information received by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), on the morning of Sunday, July 21, the execution of a man was carried out in Kermanshah Central Prison. This prisoner, identified as Danial Kazeminejad, 30 years old and a resident of the village of Lor in the suburbs of Eslamabad-e-Gharb, was sentenced to death for "murder."

An informed source regarding the execution of this prisoner told Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO): "Danial Kazeminejad, a Kurdish citizen, was arrested and sentenced to death for the murder of an IRGC member named Sajad Amiri during an armed conflict."

The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by Iranian domestic media or official sources at the time of this report.

The lack of classification for premeditated murder in Iran means that any type of murder, regardless of the severity or the motive of the accused, leads to a death sentence.

Woman, three men executed in Shiraz prison


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 21, 2024: The death sentences of three men and one woman, who were convicted in separate cases of "premeditated murder" and "rape," were carried out in Shiraz Central Prison (Adelabad).

According to information received by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), on the morning of Saturday, July 20, the execution of three men and one woman was carried out in Shiraz Central Prison. The identities of two men sentenced to death for "murder" were confirmed as Mansour Tavakoli and Hamed Shekasteh, both 40 years old. The identity of another man sentenced to death for "rape" was confirmed as Mohsen Ostovari.

These three prisoners had been transferred from Pirbanou Prison to Shiraz Central Prison for the execution of their sentences on Thursday morning.

The woman who was executed along with these three prisoners was named Mahmoudinia (first name unknown). She was sentenced to death for "murder."

An informed source regarding the execution of these three prisoners told Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO): "Mansour Tavakoli was arrested three years ago and sentenced to death. Hamed Shekasteh was also arrested about three years ago and sentenced to death."

The source continued: "Ms. Mahmoudinia was arrested and sentenced to death for the murder of her fiancé. She was unwilling to marry him and was forced into the engagement by her family."

The execution of these four prisoners has not been announced by Iranian domestic media or official sources at the time of this report.

The lack of classification for premeditated murder in Iran means that any type of murder, regardless of the severity or the motive of the accused, leads to a death sentence.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 22-21, 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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