Iran | Executions in Zahedan, Tabriz, Gorgan, Neishabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 11, 2024: Mohammadnabi Papolzehi, an Afghan man on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Haal Vsh, at least one man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 10 November. His identity has been reported as Mohammadnabi Papolzehi, a 28-year-old Afghan national.

He was arrested in Zahedan two years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Zahedan 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.”

Executions in Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 11, 2024: Mahrokh Khani and Kazem Babayi, a woman and man on death row for drug-related charges in separate cases, were executed in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman and man were executed in Tabriz Central Prison on 10 November. Their identities have been established 35-year-old Mahrokh Khani and 45-year-old Kazem Babayi who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Per informed sources, Mahrokh worked in a tailoring workshop prior to being arrested four years ago. Kazem was on death row for over two years.

Mahrokh is the 23rd woman execution recorded in 2024 and the 12th executed for drug offences.

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

Executions in Gorgan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 10, 2024: Iraj Shabdiz and Ali Ahmadzadeh, two men on death row for drug-related charges in separate cases, were executed in Gorgan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Gorgan Central Prison on 6th November. Their identities have been established 40-year-old Iraj Shabdiz from Gonbad Kavous and 47-year-old Ali Ahmadzadeh from Gorgan who were sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Iraj was a plumber prior to his arrest two years ago. Ali Ahmadzadeh was a vehicle painter and arrested for possession and carrying 75 kilograms of shisheh (methamphetamine) and 20 kilograms of heroin three years ago.

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

Execution in Neishabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 10, 2024: Jafar Farahani, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Neishabur Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Neishabur Prison on 9 November. His identity has been established as 36-year-old Jafar Farahani, a father and heavy vehicle driver.

He was arrested around three years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for the murder of his cousin.

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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, November 10-11, 2024

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