Two Political Prisoners Face Execution in Zahedan Prison

Mohammad Zeineddine and Adham Narui, currently incarcerated in Zahedan Prison, are under the threat of execution following the confirmation of their death sentences by Iran’s Supreme Court in November 2023.

In March 2023, the Criminal Court of Zahedan sentenced Zeineddine and Narui to the death penalty for “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through armed action.” On November 20, 2023, this verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Security forces apprehended Zeineddine in September-October 2020 and Narui on May 25, 2021, in Lashar, Sistan and Baluchestan Province. After completing the interrogation process in a security detention facility, they were transferred to Zahedan Prison and are currently held in Ward 9.

Subsequently, they were accused of killing three security forces, an allegation they consistently denied throughout the trial.

A reliable source close to the family of one of the prisoners has confirmed to HRANA: “Mohammad and Adham are innocent, and the charges against them are unfounded. Earlier, during a confrontation with security forces in the Sirchah region, several relatives of Mohammad were killed, resulting in the death of three security personnel. In this confrontation, the individual who had shot at these three officers was also killed. However, these two individuals, who had no involvement in this incident, were arrested.”

The source further added that the families of these prisoners have been subjected to verbal insults by judicial officials during their inquiries about the well-being and condition of their sons.

Two Inmates Executed in Bandar Abbas and Zahedan

On February 27, 2023, a female death-row prisoner convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in Bandar Abbas prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, on February 27, 2023, a woman identified as Leila Bameri was executed in Bandar Abbas prison. Three years ago, she was arrested for drug-related crimes in Bandar Abbas.

She was reportedly executed without having a chance to visit her family for the last time. Bameri was the mother of a five-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy.

Rasank News also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Khosro Mohammadi, a resident of Shiraz, in Zahedan Prison on February 28. Four years ago, he was arrested for drug-related crimes.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

Four inmates Executed in Shiraz and Zahedan

On November 12, 2022, Adel-Abad Prison’s officials executed an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on November 12, 2022, an unidentified inmate was executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz.
 

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of three inmates in Zahedan Prison on November 13. They have been identified as Emam Bakhsh Narooi, Mohsen Anshini, age 24, and Vali Roodini. In 2020, there were arrested for drug offences.

 

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

 

Seven Inmates Executed in Arak and Zahedan

On November 6, 2022, Arak Prison’s officials executed five inmates convicted of drug-related crimes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on November 6, 2022, five unidentified men were executed in Arak Prison.

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of two inmates, convicted of murder, identified as Shoaib Askani and Eshagh Askani, in Zahedan Prison on November 8.

The executions have not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Two Inmates Executed in Zahedan and Zabol

On  July 7, 2022, two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Zabol and Zahedan Prison, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on Thursday, July 7, 2022, an inmate identified as Behzad Narooie, age 33, was executed in Zahedan Prison. Haal Vsh also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Mohammad Shahi, age 48 in Zabol Prison. He was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Zahedan in 2018.

Mohammad Shahi was arrested for a drug-related crime in 2019.

Both inmates were allowed to have their last family visitation one day before the execution.

These executions have not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

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Inmate Executed in Gachsaran Prison

On July 6, 2022, an inmate who is convicted of murder was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 6, 2022, an inmate identified by HRANA as Hadi Moradi was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

This execution has not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

Haal Vsh News also reported that today, in Zahedan Prison, an inmate was relocated to solitary confinement awaiting execution. This inmate has been identified as Behzad Narooie, age 33, who was convicted of drug-related crimes.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

 

Ten Inmates Executed in Zahedan Prison, One in Isfahan Prison

On Monday, June 6, 2022, ten inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Zahedan Prison., On Sunday, June 5, 2022, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was also executed in Isfahan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, on Sunday, June 5, 2022, the execution of an inmate identified as Mehdi Sarhadi, age 36, a resident of Zahedan, was carried out in Isfahan Prison.

According to an informed source, “the prison officials told Sarhadi that he would be pardoned if he was able to memorize one of thirty parts of the Quran. However, he was executed. He had been sent to the gallows several times and brought back, as it is done in prisons at times.”

This execution has not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Haal Vsh News also reported that on Monday, June 6, ten inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Zahedan Prison. Earlier, Haal Vsh had reported that they were taken to solitary confinement to be executed.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

 

 

At Least Ten Inmates Executed in Rajai-Shahr, Zahedan and Mashhad Prisons.

In recent days, at least ten inmates were executed in Rajai-Shahr, Zahedan and Mashhad Prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, May 26, 2022, at least eight inmates were executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison.

Four of these prisoners were identified as Abbas Bitarafan, Ali Nosrati and Gholamhossein Zeynali from the ward known as Darol-Quran in Rajai-Shahr Prison. They were charged with “enmity against God” otherwise known as moharebeh. Iran Human Rights Organization has identified two other prisoners as Ali Montazeri and Vahid Mian-Abadi.

Additionally, Rasank News reported the execution of an inmate identified as Abdollah Barahooie in Zahedan Central Prison last Saturday. He was convicted of drug-related crimes.

Lastly, according to Rokna News, on May 22, an inmate identified as Elias Q, age 26, was executed in Mashhad Prison. On October 10, 2018, he hit a man with his car which led to his death. After a few hours, he turned himself in.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Three Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Zahedan Central Prison

On Saturday, November 13, three inmates previously sentenced to death on drug-related crimes were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting The Baloch Activists Campaign, last Saturday morning, Mahboob Rakhshani and two brothers, Saadallah Kharkuhi and Obeidallah Kharkuhi were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.

The most recent report of the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens, three of whom were juvenile offenders, were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Official sources and news outlets inside Iran have not reported on these executions as of this writing.

Three Inmates Executed in Zanjan, One in Zahedan

Last Wednesday, October 13, three inmates who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges were hanged in Zanjan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights, 41-year-old Hamed Jafar-Zadeh, 39-year-old Soheil Hojjat-Far,  and Yunes (last name unknown ) were executed in Zanjan Prison.

The Baloch Activists Campaign also reported the execution of one inmate in Zahedan Prison on Monday, October 18. According to this report, two days ago, Musa Sheh-bakhsh was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in order to be executed. The charges for which he was convicted are still unknown.

The most recent report of the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens, including three juvenile offenders, were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of carried-out executions, dubbed as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

None of these executions have been announced by official sources in Iran as of this writing.