Tag: Qisas

Report: Prisoners’ Families Demonstrate as Executions Surge

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Executions, News
Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, Death Penalty, DontExecute, HRANA, Karaj, Prisoners' Families, Qisas, Tehran, UN Special Rapporteur

Since May 2022, the number of executions, especially of prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes has significantly increased. Since the judiciary carries out the executions without prior notice, the new wave has raised concerns among the prisoners’ families, who organized protests in Tehran and Karaj during the past six days. Although the protests have been peaceful, the police have arrested several individuals.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, from May 22 to June 21, the number of executions spiked to 99 cases, four times more than the months before. Executions have remained at this high rate since, causing panic among death row prisoners and their families.

During this period, half of the executed inmates had been convicted of drug-related offences. Unlike murder cases in which the convict is at the mercy of the victim’s family for judgment, the execution of inmates convicted of drug-related crimes is decided by the judicial authorities’ decision.

The families have been gathering peacefully for six consecutive days in Tehran and Karaj. On September 11, the protest turned violent and 30 people were arrested, of which eight currently are kept in detention.

As the figure below illustrates, the judicial authorities have not been transparent as only 39% of the executions have been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

From March 21, 2022 (the beginning of the Iranian year) to September 11, 2022, the Judicial authorities have executed a total of 306 people, including 267 men, 30 women and 30 gender-unspecified individuals. Four of these individuals were under the age of 18 at the time of the arrest. One Pakistani and one Afghan National are among these individuals.

The figure below illustrates the breakdown of executions by capital offence.

Of these convictions, 151 people had been convicted of murder (Qisas or reprisal), 130 of drug-related crimes, 12 of rape, and two of security charges. The charges against 11 individuals remain unknown.

Geographically, 56 executions have been carried out in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Fars Province ranks second with 28 executions.

In the above-mentioned period, the authorities have sentenced 42 defendants to the death penalty.

One prisoner’s spouse expressed to HRANA that the number of executions has increased exponentially in recent weeks and the prisoners live in fear of imminent execution. 

A prisoner who is currently on furlough said the prisoners are fearful and worried about the prospects of speedy Judgements. 

According to the head of State prisons and the Security and Corrective Measures Organization, 45% of prisoners in Iran are jailed for drug-related offences.

Since under international law, drug smuggling does not fall into the category of violent crimes,  the government has been criticized by the Human Rights Organization and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran for the execution of drug-related offenders.

In 2017, the former prosecutor of Tehran, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, announced the reform in drug-related crime laws and promised the reduction of the death sentences and executions. According to the recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (SPC-HRA), drug-related executions have been reduced, but the number of recent executions is alarming. 

According to the SPC-HRA report, between January 1, 2021, and December 20 2021, at least 299 individuals, including four juvenile offenders were executed. 85 others were sentenced to death. 

The video reportage is a compilation of  26 videos of recent protests.

Ali-P Executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on Charge of Murder

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Executions, Prisoners
Ali P, citizen executions per-capita, Citizens executed, Death Penalty, iran death penalty, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Qisas, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison

At dawn on Monday, July 5, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on a charge of murder was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Khorasan newspaper, the report identifies the prisoner as Ali-P, 45, who killed his wife in August 2009.

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 report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions”.

Mohammad Hassan Taheri Haghighi Executed for Murder in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz

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Executions, Prisoners
Adelabad, Adelabad Prison, Citizen executed, Citizen execution, Execution of a citizen, Mohammad Hassan Taheri Haghighi, Qisas, Secret executions, Shiraz, Taheri Haghighi

On Sunday, July 11, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death for murder was executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoner’s identity has been verified as “Mohammad Hassan Taheri Haghighi, son of Hassan, 33 years old, from Shiraz”.

Mr. Taheri Haghighi had been in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz since 2019.

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 report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions”.

Taheri Haghighi’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

Two Death Sentences Issued in Tehran

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Citizen sentenced to death, Citizens sentenced to death, Death sentence, death sentences, Mehdi, moharebeh, Qisas, Tehran

Two death sentences were recently issued in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, a man was sentenced to death for the murder of a police officer he committed in April, 2004. Mehdi was sentenced under Qisas (“eye-for-an-eye”),  a pillar of Islamic sharia law .

It took 14 years following the incident until police officers discovered that Mehdi had started a secret new life in the city of Bonab and arrested him. Now, three years after his arrest, Mehdi has been sentenced to death, five years in prison, and 50 lashes.

According to HRANA, quoting Shahrvand Newspaper, another man was sentenced to death in Tehran on a charge of Moharebeh. Moharebeh, loosely translated as “waging war against God”, is a pillar of Islamic sharia law that is typically applied to those suspected of connection to any acts against the state.

Per the report, in late May 2017, detectives from the capital’s police station began investigating the case, and several men were arrested for extortion.

The case was sent from the Theft Court to the Revolutionary Court after a confession was obtained from the accused. Finally, the judge sentenced the leader of the extortionists to death.

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 1st and December 20th 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.

Idris Gergij and Hashem Torabi Executed in Zahedan Prison

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Executions, Prisoners
Capital Punishment, citizen executions per-capita, Citizens executed, Gergij, Hashem Torabi, Idris Gergij, iran death penalty, Islamic sharia law, Qisas, Torabi, Zahedan, Zahedan Prison

Idris Gergij and Hashem Torabi, two inmates who were previously sentenced to death for murder, were executed last week at Zahedan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Idris Gergij, who had previously been sentenced to death under the “Qisas” (an eye for an eye) principle of Islamic sharia law, was executed on Monday, July 5. On June 26, 33-year-old Hashem Torabi was executed after having been held in Zahedan Prison for about 7 years.

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 last year, 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 report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions”.

The execution of Gergij and Torabi has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

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Habib Rezaei Executed on Charge of Murder in Salmas Prison

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Executions
Citize executions per capita, Citizen executed, Citizen executions, Habib Rezaei, Kurdpa, Qisas, Rezaei, Salmas, Salmas prison, Secret executions, West Azerbaijan Province

At dawn on Monday, June 21, Habib Rezaei was executed in Salmas Prison in West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Salmas native Habib Rezaei had been previously sentenced to death on a charge of murder under the Qisas (loosely translated as “eye-for-an-eye”) principle of Shariah Law.

The report quotes an informed source as saying, “Three years ago, Mr. Rezaei killed a man in a personal altercation, and then he was sentenced to death by the judiciary”.

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th 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 report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

Rezaei’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources at the time of this writing.

 

Man Sentenced to Death in Tehran Under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

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Executions, Prisoners
Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Death sentence, iran death penalty, iran executions, Qisas, Shariah Law, Tehran

A man was recently sentenced to death in Tehran under the “Qisas” (loosely translated as eye-for-an-eye) principle of Shariah Law.

According HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Javaonline News, a defendant was sentenced to death on a charge of murder by the criminal court in Tehran province.

The victim’s wife, who orchestrated the killing, was also sentenced to a prison time of 15 years.

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th 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.

Citizen Sentenced to Death under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

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Executions, Prisoners
Citizen sentenced to death, Death Penalty, Death sentence, Iran death sentence, Qisas, Shariah Law, zanjan

A citizen was recently sentenced to death under the Qisas (roughly translated as eye-for-an-eye) principle of Shariah Law.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the citizen was sentenced after confessing to the murder of two park rangers in Zanjan.

Hossein Absalan, Director-General of the Department of Environmental in Zanjan Province, said, “The accused in the murder of two park rangers has been sentenced to death by a verdict issued by the judge.”

Absalan further stated, “Based on the evidence, according to the Iranian Police Criminal Investigation Department of Zanjan, given the explicit confession of the arrested defendant to the murder of the two rangers, the judge has sentenced the defendant to death under Qisas.”

Three sentenced to Death in Tehran Under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

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Executions, Prisoners
Death Penalty, death penalty in iran, Death sentence, iran death penalty, Qisas, Shariah Law, Tehran

In two isolated incidents, three citizens were sentenced to death in Tehran, all on charges of murder.

According to the HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna news,  death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court for two defendants who were sentenced under the Qisas (loosely translated as eye-for-an-eye) principle of Shariah Law.

The sentence was issued after 37-year-old Meysam, a shopkeeper, was stabbed to death in Varamin in Tehran.

In a separate incident, according to the Javanonline News, a defendant was sentenced to death for murder under the Qisas principle by the criminal court in Tehran province.

The victim’s wife and two murder suspects, all suspected of orchestrating the killing, were also sentenced to prison time.

 

 

Female Prisoner Kobra Fatemi Executed in Yazd Prison Under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

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Executions, Prisoners, Women
death penality in iran, Execution on Women, Fatemi, IHR, Kobra Fatemi, Qisas, Woman executed, Yazd Prison

On May 23, Kobra Fatemi was executed in Yazd Prison on a charge of murder under the Qisas (loosely translated as “eye for an eye”) principle of Shariah Law.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Acvitists, quoting Iran Human Rights (IHR),  41-year-old Fatemi had been in prison since 2015 for the murder of her husband.

Based on the report, an informed source stated: “The victim’s family were going to grant forgiveness but the victim’s paternal uncle, who is a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, insisted that the sentence be carried out and refused diya (blood money) on behalf of the victim’s family.”

“Kobra Fatemi had been married for three years and did not have any children,”  the source added. “Family disputes led her to the murder of her husband,”

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th 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.

The report states that more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

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