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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Iran | Executions in Karaj, Taybad, Semnan, Gorgan, Dezful

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Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); December 26, 2024: Hamed Pakdaman, Massoud Jalilian and Hossein Mansouri Nasab were executed for moharebeh (enmity against god) and drug-related charges, were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. Another death row prisoner named Mohammad Koushaki died by suicide in fear of his looming execution.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison on 25 December. One of the men who was sentenced to death for moharebeh through armed robbery, has been identified as Hamed Pakdaman.

The two other men who were on death row for drug-related offences have been identified as Massoud Jalilian and Hossein Mansouri Nasab.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Hossein was transferred to solitary confinement 17 days prior to his execution. He only had a brother named Shahab Mansouri Nasab who was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison on 20 May.”

Another man named Mohammad Koushaki who was on death row for drug-related offences died by suicide on 24 December.

“Mohammad Koushaki committed suicide because he knew that his execution was looming and died because it took too long to transfer him to the hospital. He is not the same person as the other Mohammad Koushaki who was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison in October.”

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.

Execution in Taybad


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 5, 2025: Ramezan Taheri, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Taybad Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Taybad Prison on 4 January. His identity has been established as 31-year-old Ramezan Taheri from Aligudarz. He was arrested two years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “There are currently 45 death row prisoners in Taybad Prison, the majority of them for drug-related offences. Most of their death sentences have been upheld and are at imminent risk of execution.”

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

Execution in Semnan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 5, 2025: Valiollah Kamalpour, an Arab Ahvazi man on death row for murder, was executed in Semnan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, an Arab Ahvazi man was executed in Semnan Central Prison on 4 January. His identity has been established 40-year-old Valiollah Kamalpour  who was arrested for an honour killing 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

Execution in Gorgan


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 4, 2025: Behrouz Mehrani, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Gorgan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Gorgan Central Prison on 1 January. His identity has been established as 36-year-old Behrouz Mehrani from Gorgan.

He was arrested four years ago and 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 Dezful


Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 3, 2025: Yavar Abdouli, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Dezful Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Dezful Prison on 31 December. His identity has been established Yavar Abdouli  who was arrested 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.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, January 3-6, 2025

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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



Location: Iran
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