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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.

Iran | Executions in Jiroft, Malayer, Isfahan, Rasht

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 21, 2024: Mohammad Farhadzadeh and Hamid Chatrsimabeh were executed for murder and moharebeh charges in Jiroft Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Jiroft Prison in Kerman province on 21 October. Mohammad Farhadzadeh was arrested seven years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

The second man’s identity has been established as 40-year-old Hamid Chatrsimabeh (Sabaki) from Goldasht who was sentenced to qisas by the Criminal Court and “moharebeh (enmity against god) through clashing and killing a NAJA officer” by the Revolutionary Court.

Per informed IHRNGO sources, the victim’s family had agreed to forgo execution in the qisas case, the moharebeh sentence was carried out.

At the time of writing, their executions have 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 Malayer


ran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 21, 2024: Mohammad Saber, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Malayer Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Malayer Prison 20 October. His identity has been established as Mohammad Saberi. He was arrested around two years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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.

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.”

Execution Isfahan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 21, 2024: Mohammadreza Mahjour, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 17 October. His identity has been established as Mohammadreza Mahjour who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

IHRNGO previously reported the execution of Abbas Karimi and Mohammad Ali Najafi, which brings the number of executions at the prison to three that day.

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

Execution in Raht


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 21, 2024: Reza Abbasi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Rasht Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 19 October. His identity has been established as 29-year-old Reza Abbasi from Rasht. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Reza Abbasi was arrested for murder during a group fight four years ago and sentenced to qisas.”

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, October 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



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