Iran | Executions in Arak, Malayer, Zahedan, Khorramabad, Mashhad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 15, 2024: Hossein Koulivand, a man on death row for murder charges, was executed in Arak Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Arak Central Prison on 14 December. His identity has been established as Hossein Koulivand 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.

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

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 15, 2024: Hassan Ebrahimi Geravand, 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 in Hamedan province on 14 December. His identity has been established as Hassan Ebrahimi Geravand from Sartarhan village in Lorestan.

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.

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.”

Four executed in Zahedan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 15, 2024: Mohammad Vazir Roudini, Yaghoub Barahouyi Moghaddam, Elias Tardast (Shahuzehi) and Alireza Galebacheh, four Baluch men on death row for drug-related offences in separate cases, were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to Haal Vsh, four Baluch men were executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 15 December. Their identities have been reported as 45-year-old Mohammad Vazir Roudini, Yaghoub Braahouyi Moghaddam, 22-year-old Elias Tardast (Shahuzehi) and 37-year-old Alireza Galebacheh. They were all sentenced to to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

Mohammad Vazir Roudini and Yaghoub were arrested in 2023, Elias and Alireza were arrested in 2020.

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

Execution in Khorramabad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 15, 2024: Mohsen Barzegar, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison.

According to HRANA news agency, a man was executed in Khorramabad (Parsilion) Central Prison on 11 December. His identity has been reported as Mohsen Barzegar who 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.

Two executed in Mashhad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 14, 2024: Mohammadshah Achakzehi and Rahim Achakzehi who were on death row for drug-related offences in a joint case, were executed in Mashhad Central Prison. Another man was previously reported to have been executed at the prison that day.

According to Haal Vsh, two Afghan men were executed in Mashhad (Vakil Abad) Central Prison on 12 December. Their identities have been reported as 22-year-old Mohammadshah Achakzehi and 24-year-old Rahim Achakzehi who were arrested for drug-related offences in Mashhad around two years ago.

They were sentenced to death by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.

Abdolkarim Shokati Teimuri was previously reported to have been executed at the prison that day, bringing the total number to three.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, December 14-15, 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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