Defendant Sentenced to Death in Criminal Court of Gonbad Kavus

A defendant was sentenced to death in the criminal court of Gonbad Kavus.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Tasnim News Agency,  the defendant was charged with the murder of Captain Nabiollah Khatiri, commander of the Border Regiment.

The Chief Justice of Golestan Province, Hadi Hashemian stated, “The first defendant was sentenced to death per the request of the victim’s family.”

“The defendant was also sentenced to imprisonment and payment of ransom to the soldiers whom he wounded with a knife,” Hashemian added.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

This verdict can be appealed in the Supreme Court.