Category: Executions

Execution of at Least 11 Prisoners in Karaj Raises Concerns

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Executions, News
Ahmad Latifi, Akbar Taj, Central Prison of Karaj, Hamed Nazari, Hoajjat Miri

On January 14, 2024, the Central Prison of Karaj executed at least 11 death-row convicts, with five of them sentenced for drug-related offenses.

According to HRANA, individuals named Akbar Taj, Hoajjat Miri, Hamed Nazari, Ahmad Latifi, and Mohammad Ali (last name unknown) were among those hanged. HRANA is actively working to identify the remaining individuals.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

 

Death Sentence and Imprisonment for Officers in Mohammad Jameh Bozorg Murder Case

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Executions, News
Mohammad Jameh Bozorg, Qisas

Emtedad News reports that a security police officer has been sentenced to death for the murder of Mohammad Jameh Bozorg during the 2022 nationwide protests. Three other officers received sentences of imprisonment and fines.

According to the verdict from branch 5 of Tehran’s Military Court, the officer who shot and committed the murder has been sentenced to death under the Islamic rules of Qisas (reprisal).

Payam Derafshan, the lawyer for the Bozorg family, stated, “The second-row defendant, a field commander and team leader, responsible for the illegal violent home invasion, has been sentenced to imprisonment. The court ruled without considering any reduction in punishment. The third-row defendant, showing remorse and having a good record, received a fine.”

Derafshan added, “The tenth defendant, charged with spreading false news and inciting overreaction among the forces, was sentenced to imprisonment. Mitigating sentence regulations were not deemed applicable by the court. The eleventh defendant, who assisted in disseminating fake news, was acquitted due to lack of proof of intent.”

Other defendants were acquitted of the charge of an illegal break-in as they were under the belief that a warrant had been issued.

Regarding the unit commander’s case, Derafshan mentioned, “Negligence and failure to follow regulations led to the tragedy. The unit commander’s complete negligence, from uniform provision to recruiting untrained forces with criminal records, arming them, facilitating midnight operations without judicial warrants, and violating citizens’ rights, is evident.”

Derafshan cited Article 54 of the Penal Code for Armed Forces Crimes, stating, “Whenever carelessness, negligence, or failure to observe regulations by commanders and officials of various ranks of the armed forces lead to loss of life or bodily harm, the perpetrator shall be sentenced to imprisonment from one to three years.”

This case underscores the crucial role of adhering to laws and regulations in preventing tragedies and safeguarding citizens’ rights. Mohammad Jameh Bozorg, a carpet retailer in Malard, Karaj, was murdered in his home by security law enforcement forces during the 2022 nationwide protests on September 25, 2022.

Execution of Three Death-Row Convicts Across Yazd, Qazvin, and Kermanshah

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Executions, News
Choobindar Prison, Falit Abedi, Meysam Habibi, Nezam Dhamarde, Qazvin

On January 11, 2024, three inmates convicted of murder and drug-related crimes were executed in Yazd, Qazvin, and Kermanshah.

Kurdpa reported the execution of Falit Abedi, a 55-year-old inmate in Choobindar Prison, Qazvin. Abedi had been convicted of drug offenses three years ago.

Simultaneously, in Kermanshah Province, Meysam Habibi, 37, was executed on the same day for a murder conviction dating back seven years, according to Kurdpa.

Haal Vsh reported the execution of Nezam Dhamarde, a 48-year-old father of four, on January 11, in Yazd Prison. Dhamarde had been sentenced to death for drug offenses two years ago.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

 

Execution of Three Inmates at Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamed Khodadad, Karaj, Kiomars Gholami, Mohammad-Hossein Geravand

Karaj, January 7, 2024 – The authorities at Ghezel (Qezel) Hesar Prison recently executed three individuals on death row.

According to HRANA, the inmates subjected to capital punishment were identified as Mohammad-Hossein Geravand, Kiomars Gholami, and Hamed Khodadad. The first two were convicted of offenses related to drugs, while the third was sentenced for murder.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Four Political Prisoners Face Death Sentences in Controversial Verdict

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Hazhir Faramarzi, Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman Fatehi, Sumay-ye Beradust, Vafa Azarbar

The Revolutionary Court has recently handed down death sentences to four members of a political opposition party: Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman (Pejman) Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir (Hajir) Faramarzi.

Joanna Taimasi, Mazloum’s wife, expressed concern, stating, “The verdict was swiftly issued in a brief and opaque trial. The entire due process, from arrest to conviction, was shrouded in uncertainty, raising fears that the execution may follow a similar clandestine path.”

“These four individuals endured torture over the last 18 months, with a notable absence of media coverage and government accountability,” she added.

A family member of one of the accused informed HRANA that “the defendants were denied legal representation throughout the entire process, their rights consistently violated. Nonetheless, their families remain committed to seeking justice by appealing to the Supreme Court.”

The specific charges against these individuals remain undisclosed.

On July 23, 2022, Iran Police Intelligence (FARAJA) arrested them in the Sumay-ye Beradust District of Urmia County.

Security-institution-affiliated news agency, Tasnim, reported the arrest of “a network of Israeli spies,” referring to these individuals. Tasnim also claimed that they possessed operational and communication equipment, as well as explosive materials, and had crossed into the country from the Kurdistan region with the intention of carrying out unprecedented terrorist operations in secure-sensitive locations.

Approximately 80 days after their arrest, Iran’s state TV aired their coerced confessions, accusing them of spying for foreign intelligence and stating that they had been apprehended in sensitive sites in Isfahan.

In response, Komalah (CPI-a Kurdish oppositional political party) issued a statement denying all these allegations and warned about intelligence institutions’ conspiring against detainees who have been accused of being members of the party.

 

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Sunni Prisoner Davoud Abdollahi Executed in Ghezel Hesar

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Ethnic Minorities, Executions, News
Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Ghezel Hesar, Kamran Sheikheh, Karaj, Khosro Besharat, moharebeh, داوود عبداللهی

On January 2, 2024, Davoud Abdollahi, a Sunni prisoner, was executed in Ghezel (Qezel) Hesar Prison, Karaj, marking the end of his 13-year incarceration.

A source close to his family informed HRANA that the execution occurred without prior notice to his family. Abdollahi had been transferred to solitary confinement on December 26, following a hunger strike he initiated.

In a related legal case, two other Sunni defendants, Ghasem Abasteh and Ayoub Karimi, were executed on November 5 and November 29, 2023, respectively.

The origins of the case date back to September 2008 when Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. In January-February 2010, Abdollahi and six other Sunni suspects were arrested in connection to the assassination.

While in detention, Abdollahi faced multiple charges, including enmity against God (Moharebeh), allegedly through sympathizing with Salafism—a charge he consistently refuted. After spending fourteen months in legal limbo, Abdollahi was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj, where he remained until his relocation to Ghezel Hesar Prison in August of the current year.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, the verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then assigned to Branch 15 of the court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Abdollahi and six others—Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ghasem Abasteh, and Ayoub Karimi. This time, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences for him and his co-defendants.

Nine Individuals Executed for Drug Offenses in Ardabil

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Executions, News
Ardabil, Ardabil Province, HRANA

Ardabil Province judicial authorities have confirmed the execution of nine inmates in separate legal cases, all charged with drug offenses, within Ardabil Prison, as reported by Fars News Agency.

Following the Supreme Court’s confirmation of their verdicts, three inmates were executed. Additionally, six individuals were hanged in the preceding days, with their identities remaining undisclosed in the report.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Execution of Five Inmates for Armed Robbery in Karaj Central Prison

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Executions, News
Alborz province, Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, ISNA, The Central Prison of Karaj

On January 1, 2024, the Central Prison of Karaj carried out the execution of five death-row inmates convicted of armed robbery, as reported by ISNA.

The Chief Justice of Alborz Province, Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, confirmed their identities were withheld due to their conviction of “gang armed robbery, making roads unsafe, instilling fear in the public, and causing significant damage to people’s property.”

According to Harikandi, the Karaj Revolutionary Court had sentenced them to death, although the exact date of the conviction was not disclosed. The executions took place after multiple confirmations of the death sentences by the Supreme Court.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented a total of 746 executions, with 6 taking place in public. Among the executed individuals with identified genders, 597 were male, and 20 were female. Notably, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a thorough analysis of the particulars and statistical breakdown of the executions in Iran, please consult HRANA’s annual report.

Four Alleged Spies Executed in Urmia Prison Amidst Iran-Israel Tensions

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Aran Omari, Nasim Namazi, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison, Vafa Henareh

On December 29, 2023, against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazoo, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi were executed in Urmia Prison on charges of espionage for Israel.

The individuals, including Mansour Rasouli, received death sentences as part of a contentious legal case known as “interrogating Mansour Rasouli.” Yesterday, HRANA reported their relocation to solitary confinement the day before, heightening concerns about their impending execution. In an unexpected turn of events, Rasouli was returned to prison, reportedly due to a significant development in his legal case.

In October 2021, these five individuals, along with three others, were apprehended and interrogated on charges of espionage. Subsequently, in February-March 2022, they were incarcerated in Urmia Prison, receiving death sentences for their alleged “intelligence collaboration with Israel.”

In May 2022, media outlets released a video featuring a man claiming to be an IRGC member, interrogated by Israeli forces within Iran, confessing to planning an attack on Israel. Later, the same individual, Mansour Rasouli, retracted his confession, stating he was a farmer abducted and coerced into making false statements. Three weeks later, the IRGC announced the arrest of several individuals allegedly collaborating with Israel and engaging in kidnappings to extract fabricated confessions.

An informed source disclosed to HRANA that Rasouli had been a former IRGC member, paid to record voice and video files for use against other defendants. Rasouli was arrested after obtaining confessions from other defendants in this case.

Concerns Mount as Five Individuals Convicted of Espionage Are on the Verge of Imminent Execution in Urmia

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Aran Omari, Mansour Rasouli, Nasim Namazi, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison, Vafa Henareh

Urmia, December 28 – Mansour Rasouli, Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazoo, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi, all on death row for espionage, have been transferred to solitary confinement, causing deep distress among their families who fear their impending executions.

In October 2021, these five individuals, along with three others, were apprehended and subjected to interrogation on charges of espionage. Subsequently, in February-March 2022, they were incarcerated in Urmia Prison and later received death sentences for their alleged “intelligence collaboration with Israel.”

In May 2022, media outlets released a video featuring a man, purportedly an IRGC member interrogated by Israeli forces within Iran, confessing to planning an attack on Israel. Subsequently, the same individual, Mansour Rasouli, retracted his confession, asserting that he was a farmer abducted and coerced into making false statements. Three weeks later, the IRGC announced the arrest of several people allegedly collaborating with Israel and engaging in kidnappings to extract fabricated confessions.

Given the recent escalation of tension in the region and the Iranian regime’s historical use of the judicial system for political purposes, coupled with uncertainties surrounding the process of their detention and trial, the relocation of these individuals to solitary confinement raises concerns about the imminent execution of the sentences.