Omid Sheikh Kanlou Milan, a 22-year-old man previously sentenced to death on charges of forced same-sex relations, was executed in Salmas Prison on Wednesday, November 13. The execution was carried out despite the plaintiff in the case having pardoned him, as the judge insisted on implementing the sentence based on the “public aspect of the crime.”

HRANA’s sources report that Mr. Sheikh Kanlou Milan was arrested about a year ago following a complaint by “A.M.” (identity withheld by HRANA), a teacher-soldier and member of the Basij militia. He was accused of forced same-sex relations and sentenced to death by the Khoy Criminal Court. Despite the plaintiff officially pardoning him in recent weeks, the judge insisted on proceeding with the execution due to the public nature of the offense.

A relative of the executed man told HRANA: “Since the plaintiff had pardoned him, the family hoped the execution would not take place. His mother and other relatives, who had waited outside Salmas Prison since 4 a.m. on Wednesday, were informed at 9 a.m. that the sentence had been carried out.”

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been publicly confirmed by prison officials or relevant authorities.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.