Reza Rajabian and Naser Parvaneh Hanged for Murder in Shirvan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Shirvan Prison on 15 October 2026. He has been identified as 23-year-old Reza Rajabian (right photo) who was arrested five years ago and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Reza was just over 18 at the time of the alleged murder which took place during a clash five years ago. Two of Reza’s cousin and another relative were executed around two years ago. Two other defendants in the case remain on death row and at risk of execution.”

Another man was hanged at the prison on 5 October 2026. His identity has been established as 28-year-old Naser Parvaneh (left photo) who was arrested for the murder of his friend four years ago. According to informed IHRNGO sources, the fight broke out over his sister who also served a two-year prison sentence.

At the time of writing, their executions have not 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 mitigating factors due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

Crucially, while an indicative diya amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money. Should the victim’s family choose execution, they are not only encouraged to attend, but also to physically carry out the execution themselves.

According to IHRNGO’s 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 747 people including 48 women, were executed for murder charges, the highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Under 7% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2025, IHRNGO also recorded 566 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions. In the first nine months of 2026, at least 306 people were executed for murder charges.