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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Iran | Executions in Nahavand, Qazvin, Tabriz, Miandoab, Yazd, Karaj, Zanjan, Khaf

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 25, 2024: Vahid Abbasi, a Kurdish man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Nahavand Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Nahavand Prison on 22 August. His identity has been established as 33-year-old Vahid Abbasi who was arrested for murder three years ago. He was sentenced to qisas by the Criminal Court.

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. Crucially, while an indicative amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money.

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.

Execution in Qazvin


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 25, 2024: Abbas Rashidi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Qazvin (Choobindar) Central Prison on 24 August. His identity has been established as 45-year-old Abbas Rashidi who was sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Abbas Rashidi was a father of two and a painter prior to arrest. He was arrested three years ago.”

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. In the first six months of 2024, at least 147 people were executed for the charges.

Execution in Tabriz


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 23, 2024: Mohammad Khaled Jahangiri, a Kurdish man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Tabriz Central Prison on 22 August. His identity has been established as Mohammad Khaled Jahangiri, a Kurdish man from the village of Balu in Urmia. He was sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mohammad Khaled Jahangiri was married with two children. He was arrested for drug offences five years ago.”

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

Execution in Miandoab


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 22, 2024: Mohammad Daghestani, a Kurdish man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Miandoab Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Miandoab Prison on 21st August. His identity has been established as 49-year-old Mohammad Daghestani from Haki village in Urmia. He was sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mohammad Daghestani was a Kurdish citizen who had two wives and was arrested for carrying 200 kilograms of narcotics around two years ago.”

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

Execution in Yazd


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 21, 2024: State media reported the execution of an unnamed man for rape and sexual assault charges at an unspecified prison in Yazd.

According to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency and quoting Hossein Tahmasebi, the Yazd province head of judiciary, a man was executed at an unspecified prison at an unspecified date.

The man was arrested for rape and sexual assault charges around five years ago and sentenced to death.

Hossein Tahmasebi said: “The individual raped multiple girls and women after luring them as a fortune teller who claimed to be a person who writes prayers.”

In cases of rape, there is a high chance of defendants being tortured to make false confessions, which is used to issue death sentences. In Iran is one of the few countries in the world that issues the death penalty for rape. A lot of cases are also rushed without the defendants having access to a lawyer.

According to the 2023 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 20 people were executed for rape charges in 2022 compared to 23 in 2022 and 10 in 2021.

Executions in Karaj


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 20, 2024: Mohammad Karamizadeh and Esmail Javadi were executed for murder charges in Ghezelhesar Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison in Karaj on 19 August. Their identities have been established as Mohammad Karamizadeh and Esmail Javadi who were both sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

HRANA news agency which first reported news of the executions reported that Mohammad Karamizadeh was in prison for drug-related charges when he killed his wife during a conjugal visit, and Esmail Javadi was accused of killing his friend in an honour killing.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Executions in Tabriz


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 20, 2024: Abbas Alayi Aghbolagh and Ali Azmoun were executed for drug-related charges in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Tabriz Central Prison on 18 August. Their identities have been established as Abbas Alayi Aghbolagh (photo) and Ali Azmoun who were sentenced to death for drug-related offences.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Abbas Alayi Aghbolagh was from Aghbolagh village in Meshgin Shahr and was arrested around four years ago. Ali Azmoun was arrested around two years ago.”

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Executions in Zanjan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 20, 2024: Mehdi Piri and Mazaher Ayouzi were executed for drug-related and murder charges in Zanjan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Zanjan Central Prison on 19 August. Their identities have been established as 31-year-old Mehdi Piri from Shirvan and 35-year-old Mazaher Ayouzi, a father of one.

Mehdi Piri was arrested for drug-related offences around two years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Mazaher Ayouzi was arrested for murder charges around three years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court.

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Execution in Khaf


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); August 20, 2024: State media reported the execution of an unnamed man for murder charges at an unspecified prison in Khaf, Khorasan Razavi province.

According IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency and quoting the Khaf public prosecutor, a man was executed on 15 August at an unspecified prison. The unnamed man was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder after being arrested around three years ago.

It is believed that the man was executed in Mashhad Central Prison or another Khorasan Razavi prison.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, August 20-25, 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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