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As clock ticks toward another Trump presidency, federal death row prisoners appeal for clemency

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President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office is putting a spotlight on the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, which houses federal death row. In Bloomington, a small community of death row spiritual advisors is struggling to support the prisoners to whom they minister.  Ross Martinie Eiler is a Mennonite, Episcopal lay minister and member of the Catholic Worker movement, which assists the homeless. And for the past three years, he’s served as a spiritual advisor for a man on federal death row.

Iran | Executions in Zanjan, Shiraz, Ahar, Zahedan, Khorramabad, Karaj, Jiroft, Kanuj, Hamedan, Urmia, Arak, Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 7, 2024: Soleiman Abbaspour, a possible child offender on death row for murder was executed in Zanjan Central Prison on Saturday. Yesterday, a man named Ezat Seyedi who according to his relatives, suffered from “intellectual disabilities,” was executed for unintentionally killing his friend while they were joking around with a rifle.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Zanjan Central Prison on 2nd November. His identity has been established as 21-year-old Soleiman Abbaspour who was was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Soleiman was transferred to Zanjan Central Prison from the Correctional Centre and was arrested four years ago and was 16 years and 11 months old at the time of his alleged offence. He stated in court that the victim was drunk and had tried to rape him but the court didn’t accept his defence and even ignored the fact that he was under 18 at the time.”

According to the source, there are currently six child offenders on death row in Zanjan Central Prison who are scheduled to be executed.

At the time of writing, IHRNGO has not been able to verify Soleiman’s age through document evidence and continues its efforts to confirm his age.

Furthermore, another man was executed at the prison on 6th November. His identity has been established as Ezat Seyedi, a 40-year-old man also on death row for murder.

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 Shiraz


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 7, 2024: Majid Alibabayi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Prison on 6th November. His identity has been established as Majid Alibabayi who was arrested five years ago.

He was 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.

Execution in Ahar


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 7, 2024: Yousef Ramezani, a man on death row for drug-related charges, was executed in Ahar Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Ahar Prison in East Azerbaijan province on 6th November. His identity has been established as Yousef Ramezani, a man sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Yousef was arrested for carrying 80 kilograms of shisheh (methamphetamine) 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.

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 Zahedan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 7, 2024: Yaghoub Narouyi, a Baluch man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Haal Vsh, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 5th November. His identity has been reported as 26-year-old Yaghoub Narouyi who was arrested for drug-related offences three years ago and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

He was transferred to the pre-execution solitary confinement cells of the prison on 3rd November and said goodbye to his family on 5th November.

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

Two executed in Khorramabad 


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 7, 2024: Hamed Darvishi and Mostafa Rouzbehani, two men on death row for drug-related offences, were executed in Khorramabad Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Khorramabad (Parsilion) Central Prison on 6th November. Their identities have been established as Hamed Darvishi and Mostafa Rouzbehani who were both around 40 years old and on death row for drug-related offences.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Hamed Darvishi was a taxi driver from Boroujerd and was arrested three years ago. Mostafa was also a Boroujerd native who was on death row for four years.

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

At Least 10 Men Executed in Ghezelhesar Prison


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 7, 2024: At least ten men including three Afghan nationals were executed for murder, drug-related and rape charges in Ghezelhesar Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least ten men including three Afghan nationals were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison in Karaj on 6th November. Three of the men who were on death row for drug-related offences, have been identified as Hossein Aghasi, Jalil Eghbalzadeh from Harsin in Kermanshah and Faramarz Entesari from Nourabad in Lorestan.

Five of the men were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder. They have been identified as Abdollah Geravand, Mostafa Sarlak, Mohammad Hossein Bayat and Ejmal Azizi, an Afghan national. The fourth man’s identity has not been established at the time of writing.

Two of the men were Afghan nationals and on death row for rape charges. One of the men has been identified as Mohammad Tajik.

At the time of writing, none of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Execution in Jiroft


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 6, 2024: Aref Kamali, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Jiroft Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Jiroft Prison on 5th November. His identity has been established as Aref Kamali who was 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.

Two executed in Shiraz


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 5, 2024: Mohammadreza Sotoudeh and Alireza Jamshidi, two men on death row for murder, were executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 4th November. Their identities have been established as 24-year-old Mohammadreza Sotoudeh and 27-year-old Alireza Jamshidi, who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court in separate cases.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Alireza Jamshidi was accused of murder during a fight when he was drunk five years ago. He was transferred to the gallows from the youth ward of the prison. Mohammadreza Sotoudeh was from Fasa and arrested for murder over two years ago.”

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

Two executions in Kanuj


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 5, 2024: Yousef Ahmadi and Mansour Rastakhzi, two Baluch men on death row for murder and drug-related offences, were executed in Kahnuj Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Kahnuj Prison on 4th November. Their identities have been established as 32-year-old Yousef Ahmadi and Mansour Rastakhiz (Karami), two Baluch men from Minab.

Yousef was arrested five years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court. Mansour was arrested four years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Execution in Hamedan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 5, 2024: Dariush Saeedi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Hamedan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Hamedan Central Prison on 3rd November. His identity has been established as Dariush Saeedi, a 32-year-old man from Hamedan.

Informed sources told IHRNGO that Dariush was arrested for a murder committed during a group fight five years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court. He was also sentenced to qisas for another murder which took place during a fight in prison.

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

Execution in Urmia


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 5, 2024: Ramin Kazem Alilu and Ali Momeni, two men on death row for murder, were executed in Urmia Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Urmia (Darya) Central Prison on 3rd November. Their identities have been established as 35-year-old Ramin Kazem Alilu and 24-year-old Ali Momeni, two Urmia natives who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court in separate cases.

Ramin was arrested around five years ago and Ali was arrested for the murder of a goldsmith less than two years ago.

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

Execution in Karaj


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 4, 2024: Mohammad Abbas Moghaddam, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Karaj Penitentiary.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Karaj Penitentiary (Central Prison) on 3rd November. His identity has been established as 41-year-old Mohamamd Abbas Moghaddam from Zabol.

He was arrested four 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.

Execution in Arak


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 4, 2024: Ashkan Asgari, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Arak Central Prison.

According to HRANA news agency, a man was executed in Arak Central Prison on 3rd November. His identity has been reported as 29-year-old Ashkan Asgari who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court and on death row for over three years.

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

Execution in Tabriz


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 4, 2024: Abolfazl Shahbazi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Tabriz Central Prison on 31 October. His identity has been established as Abolfazl Shahbazi who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) by the Criminal Court.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, November 7-4, 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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