Iran | Executions in Qom, Zanjan, Karaj, Gorgan, Qorveh, Shiraz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 24, 2024: Ayoub Sangari and Abdolgharib Maleki, two Afghan nationals on death row for murder, were executed in Qom Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two Afghan men were executed in Qom Central Prison on 22nd October. Their identities have been established as 26-year-old Abdolgharib Maleki and Ayoub Sangari who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Ayoub Sangari was arrested four years ago and Abdolgharib Maleki was arrested for a murder committed during a street fight.”

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.

Two executed in Zanjan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 24, 2024: Mohammadreza Haji Khani and Mehran Soltani, two men on death row for murder, were executed in Zanjan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Zanjan Central Prison on 23rd October. Their identities have been established as 27-year-old Mohammadreza Haji Khani and 30-year-old Mehran Soltani who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mohammadreza was from Zanjan and was arrested for a murder in a repair shop. Mehran Soltani was also from Zanjan and arrested for the murder of a relative five years ago.”

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

At least five executed in Karaj

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 24, 2024: At least five men including two Afghan nationals were executed for drug-related, murder and rape charges in Ghezelhesar Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least five men including two Afghan nationals were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison in Karaj on 23rd October. Two of the men who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges have been identified as Mohammad Koushaki and Babakhani Jafari from Nourabad in Lorestan.

The third man who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, has been identified as Arman Naserzadeh.

The two Afghan men who were on death row for murder and rape charges in separate cases, have not been identified at the time of writing.

At the time of writing, none of their executions have 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 Gorgan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 24, 2024: Armin Aghchali, a Turkmen man on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in Gorgan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Gorgan Central Prison on 23 October. His identity has been established as Armin Aghchali, a Turkmen citizen who was arrested five years ago.

He was 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.

Execution in Qorveh

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 22, 2024: Mehdi Cheraghi, a Kurdish man on death row for murder, was executed in Qorveh Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a Kurdish man was executed in Qorveh Prison on 21st October. His identity has been established as 29-year-old Mehdi Cheraghi from Ghorveh who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mehdi Cheraghi was arrested for the murder of a 64-year-old man seven years ago. He was previously transferred to the gallows last year but had obtained an extension.”

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

Execution in Shiraz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 22, 2024: Salman Aghayi, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison 22 October. His identity has been established as Salman Aghayi, a 33-year-old father of one from Mashhad.

He was arrested in Shiraz three years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court. He was a school caretaker prior to arrest.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, October 22-24, 2024

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