Iran | Executions in Birjand, Mahabad, Amol, Isfahan, Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 21, 2025: Abbas Bameri, a Baluch man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Birjand Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a Baluch man was executed in Birjand Central Prison on 15 February 2025. His identity has been established as 46-year-old Abbas Bameri, a father of three and farmer who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Abbas lived in a village in Golestan province and was arrested for carrying drug and firearms five 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 2024 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 503 people were executed for drug-related charges, of which only under 3% were announced by official sources. 17% of all drug-related executions in 2024 were Baluch minorities while they represent 2-6% of Iran’s population.

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.

Man executed in Mahabad

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 21, 2025: Shahin Mahdavikia, a man on death row for rape, was executed in Mahabad Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Mahabad Prison in West Azerbaijan province on 20 February 2025. His identity has been established as 29-year-old Shahin Mahdavikia (Jalali) who was sentenced to death for rape charges by the Criminal Court.

Informed sources told IHRNGO that the victim in the case had committed suicide six months after the crime.

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

In cases of rape, there is a high chance of defendants being tortured to make false confessions, which is used to issue death sentences. In Iran is one of the few countries in the world that issues the death penalty for rape. A lot of cases are also rushed without the defendants having access to a lawyer.

According to the 2024 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 22 people were executed for rape charges across 10 prisons.

Man executed in Amol

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 21, 2025: Malek Parsa, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Amol Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Amol Prison in Mazandaran province on 19 February 2025. His identity has been established as 42-year-old Malek Parsa from the Osko region in Amol.

He was arrested for the murder of an elderly man four years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

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.

According to IHRNGO’s 2024 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 419 people including a juvenile offender and 19 women, were executed for murder charges, the highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Only 12% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2024, Iran Human Rights also recorded 649 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.

Execution in Isfahan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 20, 2025: Rasoul Ashour, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Isfahan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Isfahan (Dastgerd) Central Prison on 19 February 2025. His identity has been established as 40-year-old Rasoul Ashour from Afjad in Isfahan.

He was arrested six years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

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

In 2024, at least 419 people including a juvenile offender and 19 women, were executed for murder charges, the highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Only 12% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2024, Iran Human Rights also recorded 649 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.

Execution in Tabriz

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 20, 2025: Bahram Almasi, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Tabriz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison on 16 February 2025. His identity has been established as 39-year-old Bahram Almasi from Tabriz who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Bahram Almasi was arrested for murder during a fight nine years ago. He was transferred for execution on two previous occasions but was returned to his cell after obtaining an extension.”

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, February 20-21, 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

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