Iran | Executions in Shiraz, Arak, Neishabur, Qazvin

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 19, 2025: Mehdi Iranian and a woman only identified as Ms Bagherinejad who were both on death row for murder, were executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man and a woman were executed in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 18 February 2025. Their identities have been established as 28-year-old Mehdi Iranian and 45-year-old Ms Bagherinejad who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder in separate cases.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mehdi was arrested four years ago for allegedly stabbing someone with a dagger during a fight. Ms Bagherinejad was arrested for the murder of her husband five years ago.”

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

Ms Bagherinejad is the third woman execution recorded in 2025. Iran is the top executioner of women worldwide. According to IHRNGO’s January 2025 report, at least 241 women were executed between 2010- 2024. Over 69% of the known murder cases, the women were convicted of killing their husbands or partners. In the report, IHRNGO highlights the discriminatory laws and societal factors that women face and makes them more vulnerable in the context of the death penalty.

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.

Execution in Arak

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 18, 2025: Hadi Farahani, 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 16 February 2025. His identity has been reported as Hadi Farahani who was 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 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 Neishabur

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 18, 2025: Sadegh Nezakat, 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 in Khorasan Razavi province on 16 February 2025. His identity has been established as Sadegh Nezakat, a 33-year-old man from Neishabur.

He was arrested 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.

Execution in Qazvin

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 18, 2025: Hossein Aliyari, a man on death row for drug-related offences, was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Qazvin (Choobindar) Central Prison on 17 February 2025. His identity has been established as 31-year-old Hossein Aliyari from Zanjan who was sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court.

He was transferred to the pre-execution cells on Saturday.

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

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, February 18-19, 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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