Yazdan Varehzardi Executed in Ahvaz

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison on 21 August. His identity has been established as 30-year-old Yazdan Varehzardi from the Delfan tribe in Khorramabad. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Yazdan Varehzardi was arrested for murder charges in Ahvaz six years ago and transferred to Khorramabad Central Prison sometime later. He was recently transferred from Khorramabad prison to Sepidar Prison and his execution carried out on Monday.”

Iran Human Rights previously reported the execution of Abdolreza Ghalavand for drug-related charges at the prison that day. Yazdan’s execution brings the number of executions at the prison that day to two.

On the same day, an unidentified prisoner was also whipped 80 times for “alcohol consumption” at the prison.

At the time of writing, neither execution has been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family, as the plaintiffs, are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.