According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least six men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison in Karaj on 16 October. Four of the men were sentenced to death for drug-related charges. Three of their identities have been established as Javid Ahmadi and Afghan nationals Abdolbari Tajik and Pasha Pashto. The fourth man has not been identified at the time of writing.
The two other men were Afghan national who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder. IHRNGO is working to establish their identities.
Four others who were transferred to Ghezelhesar Prison for execution are also reported to have been executed which IHRNGO has not been able to verify at the time of writing.
At the time of writing, their executions have 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 in Urmia
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 19, 2024: Amir Soleimani, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Urmia Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Urmia (Darya) Central Prison on 15 October. His identity has been established as 33-year-old Amir Soleimani from Urmia.
He was arrested for murder charges three years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder 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 Mashhad
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 18, 2024: Alireza Kheshavehpour, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Mashhad Central Prison.
According to HRANA news agency, a man was executed in Mashhad (Vakil Abad) Central Prison on 14th October. His identity has been reported as Alireza Kheshavehpour who was sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court. He was transferred for execution the day prior.
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Execution in Shirvan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 18, 2024: Vali Heshmatpour, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Shirvan Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Shirvan Prison in North Khorasan Razavi province on 15th October. His identity has been established as Vali Heshmatpour who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Vali Heshmatpour was transferred from another prison for execution in Shirvan Prison. The murder he was convicted for took place in Shiravan.”
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Execution in Qazvin
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 18, 2024: Ali Maroufkhani, 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 10th October. His identity has been established as Ali Maroufkhani who was sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court.
An informed source told IHRNGO: “Ali Maroufkhani was arrested for drug charges with another person nearly four years ago and both were sentenced to death.”
At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Two executed in Hamedan
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 18, 2024: Rasoul Fili and an unidentified woman who were on death row for drug-related offences, were executed in Hamedan Central Prison.
According to HRANA news agency, a woman and man were executed in Hamedan Central Prison on 14th October. The man’s identity has been reported as Rasoul Fili. Both he and the unidentified woman were sentenced to death for drug-related offences by the Revolutionary Court.
At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, October 18-19, 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."
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."
— Oscar Wilde
