Iran Human Rights

11 Prisoners Among Them 2 Women and 2 Afghan Citizens Were Executed in Iran

Iran Human Rights — 2013-04-24T22:45:03Z

Iran Human Rights, April 25: According to official reports from Iran 11 prisoners, among them two women and two Afghan citizens, have been executed in the last 3 days in the prisons of Mashhad, Bam and Kermanshah. One prisoner was also executed in the prison of Urmia according to unofficial reports.

Four prisoners executed in Mashhad:

According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were executed in the prison of Mashhad Wednesday April 24. According to this report the prisoners were 26 and 22 year old men who were convicted of rape in two different cases in 2010.

According to Tabnak (website close to the authorities) two other prisoners were hanged in the prison of Mashhad on April 22. Quoting the Khorasan daily newspaper the reports said that the men were two young Afghan citizens who were convicted of raping a 16 year old girl.

None of the prisoners were identified by name.

Four prisoners among them two women were executed in Kermanshah (Western Iran):

According to the Iranian state broadcasting fur prisoners were hanged in the Dizelabad prison of Kermanshahon on April 22. According to this report the prisoners who were not identified by name were "major distributors of narcotic drugs in the area". They were charged with possession of 2000 grams of heroin and 25000 grams of opium said the report. Two of the prisners were women according to the report but none of them were identified by name.

Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bam (Southeastern Iran):

According to Khorasannews three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bam (southeastern Iran) . One of the prisoners was convicted of participation in possession and trafficking of 5 kilograms of heroin, while the two others were charged with distribution of 9 kilograms of heroin. None of the prisoners were identified by name.

One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Urmia

According to the unofficial Kurdish news agency Kurdpa one prisoner identified as "Nazmi Abbasnejad" (32 year old) was hanged in the prison of Urmia today Wednesday April 24. According to the report the prisoner was convicted of drug related charges. The news was not announced by the official media. According to Iran Human Rights' "annual report on the death penalty" none of the 23 executions in the Urmia prison in 2012 were announced by the official Iranian media.

One Woman And Three Men Hanged In Western Iran- One Hanged Publicly

Iran Human Rights — 2012-12-03T14:59:36Z

Iran Human Rights, december 3: Four prisoners among them one woman, were hanged in Kermanshah (Western Iran) today Monday December 3.

According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Kermanshah, one female and two male prisoners were hanged in the prison of Kermanshah, while a foruth prisoner was hanged publicly in the Azadi (Freedom) Square of Kermanshah Monday noon. None of the prisoners were identified by name.

The three prisoners who were hanegd inside the prison were convicted of drug-related charges, while the prisoner who was hanged publicly was convicted of rape and kidnapping.

None of the above mentioned charges have been confirmed by independent sources.

Azadi (Freedom) Square of Kermanshah has been the site of several public executions in the past years.

UNOFFICIAL REPORTS: FOUR WOMEN STONED TO DEATH IN IRAN - IHR DEMANDS INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION

Iran Human Rights — 2012-11-03T17:01:16Z

Iran Human Rights, November 2: According to a report published by the Melli-Mazhabi website, four women have been stoned to death during the past days in Iran. Security agents from the Iranian Judiciary reportedly transferred the bodies of the four women to the Tehran forensic medicine department. Reliable sources in contact with the Melli-Mazhabi website said the women had additional wounds on their bodies other than the one's caused by stoning. The charges in the case files include 'engaging in immoral (sexual) relationship(s)' and 'drug abuse'.

The sources that Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with say: "There is no doubt that the women have died as a result of stoning...and that the stoning has been carried out by the Iranian judiciary."

IHR has urged the United Nations to conduct an urgent investigation on the stoning of the four women. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR, said: "At the present moment there is no information about the identities of these women, but evidence suggests they were stoned to death by the Iranian authorities."

At least seven stoning verdicts have been implemented by the Iranian authorities between 2006 and 2010.

A woman prisoner (Safieh Ghafoori) was hanged in Shiraz today

Iran Human Rights — 2012-07-12T12:04:07Z

Iran Human Rights, July 12: According to reliable sources that Iran Human Rights is in contact with, a woman prisoner, Safieh "Maryam" Ghafouri, was hanged in Shiraz prison early this morning. Safieh Ghafouri was convicted of murder but, according to some sources, she was innocent and had confessed to the murder under pressure. More details will follow later. - English / women, execution

26 PRISONERS EXECUTED IN IRAN: 10 OFFICIAL AND 16 UNOFFICIAL EXECUTIONS IN THREE PRISONS

Iran Human Rights — 2012-05-17T09:49:33Z

Iran Human Rights, May 17: According to the official and unofficial reports 26 prisoners were executed in three different Iranian prisons yesterday and today.

Ten of the executions were announced by official Iranian media while 16 other executions were reported by a rights group.

SEVEN PRISONERS, AMONG THEM ONE WOMAN, EXECUTED IN KERMANSHAH (WESTERN IRAN):

According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Kermanshah seven prisoners were hanged in the central prison of this city early yesterday morning, May 16.

All the prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges said the report.

According to the report the prisoners executed yesterday in Kermanshah are identified as:

"A. A." (woman) for keeping and carrying 27 kilograms of heroin, "R. A." for participation in keeping and carrying 100 kilograms of morphine and 254 kilograms of opium, "Kh. Sh." for participation in keeping and carrying 57 kilograms of opium, "M. B." for participation in keeping and carrying 69 kilograms of opium, "A. S." for participation in keeping and carrying 4 kilos and 548 grams of morphine, "M. S."For participation in keeping and carrying narcotics (not specified in the report), and "M. Kh." for participation in keeping and carrying 1529 grams of crack.

THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN THE PRISON OF ARDEBIL (NORTHWESTERN IRAN): The official website of the Iranian judiciary in Ardebil (northeastern Iran) reported about execution of three prisoners in the prison of Ardebil this morning, Thursday May 17. According to the report the prisoners were convicted of buying and carrying 105 grams of heroin, 498,15 grams of heroin and 160 kilograms and 493 grams of opium. None of the prisoners were identified by their names.

16 PRISONERS (AMONG THEM FOUR WOMEN) WERE HANGED IN THE PRISON F YAZD (CENTRAL IRAN) ACCORDING TO UNOFFICIAL REPORT:

According to a report by the group "Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran" (HRDAI), 16 prisoners were hanged in the prison of Yazd early this morning Thursday May 17. According to the report there were four women among the prisoners executed today. The report also said that five of the 16 prisoners were Afghan citizens. One of the Afghan prisoners executed today was identified by "Mohammad Damardeh" (25 year old) son of Nour Mohammad originally imprisoned for illegal immigration to Iran but later the case changed to drug trafficking, said the report.

The executions in Yazd have still not been confirmed by the official Iranian sources.

Iran Human Rights (IHR) strongly condemns yesterday and today's mass executions in the Iranian prisons. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR urged the international community to show strong reaction to the executions in Iran. He said: "The world must not get used to the executions in Iran. Most of the people executed in Iran haven't been through fair trials and each of the executions must be condemned by the international community".

UN Special Rapporteur: Kurdish death row prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi were tortured and threatened with rape

Iran Human Rights — 2012-03-16T07:06:35Z

Iran Human Rights, March 14: On Monday March 12. the UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Ahmad Shaheed presented his report on the situation of the human rights in Iran to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva.

Iran Human Rights (IHR) welcomes the report presented by the Special Rapporteur. Commenting the report, the spokesperson of IHR Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: "This is an important and comprehensive report that documents very well some of the serious human rights violations in Iran". He added:"Since the Special Rapporteur hasn't been allowed by the Iranian authorities to travel to Iran, it is understandable that the report doesn't contain more cases regarding the human rights violations in the country". The spokesperson of IHR hoped that the Special Rapporteur's mandate will be extended for a longer period of time".

Presentation of the report:

In a statement which was delivered for his presentation to the Human Rights Council Mr. Shaheed gave more details about some cases that were just named in the report. One such case was that of the Kurdish death row prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi. Mr. Shaheed said: "..several sources maintained that Zanyar and Loghman Moradi, who were arrested in 2009 on charges of murdering the son of an Imam, were detained for the first nine months of their detention without charges. These witnesses reported that Zanyar and Loghman Moradi were later compelled to confess to allegations of murder after being severely beaten and threatened with rape. The witnesses stated that no evidence or witnesses were brought against these men, and that they did not have reasonable access to their legal counsel. Both men were sentenced to public hanging on 22 December 2010 by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court".

UN's Special Rapporteur Mr. Shaheed also mentioned Abdolfattah Soltani and Narges Mohammadi, both human rights lawyer who have been sentenced to prison. Mr. Shaheed said: "It is also frequently reported that those who attempt to defend the accused are also met with severe punitive measures. The Nuremberg prize for human rights winner and lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, for example, was arrested on charges of “propaganda against the regime”; “co-founding the Defenders of Human Rights Center”; “assembly and collusion against the regime”; “accepting an illegal prize” and “illegal earnings” stemming from the prize. Mr. Soltani was sentenced to 18 years in prison and banned from practicing law for 20 years. Similarly, Ms Nargis Mohammadi, a human rights defender and Vice President of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, founded by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, was recently sentenced to 6 years in prison by Branch 26 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court.


UN Special Rapporteur's report on Iran

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN- AT LEAST 676 EXECUTIONS IN 2011

Iran Human Rights — 2012-03-04T19:25:05Z

Iran Human Rights, March 1: As the Iranian authorities continue the crackdown of the dissidents and the civil society, Iran Human Rights (IHR) presents its annual report on the death penalty in 2011 in Iran. The report was presented in press conferences at the Italian Senate, Paris City Hall and University of Oslo las week.


Download the report

Introduction:

The execution wave that began after the June 2009 post-election protests in Iran is still going on with high frequency . According to the present report, the execution figure in 2011 was the highest reported since the beginning of 1990's.

Iranian authorities continue executing several hundred prisoners each year in the pretext of fighting drug-trafficking. Among those executed for drug trafficking in 2011 we find alone mothers of dependent children, who were subjected to unfair trials and executed and those whose families do not even afford to pay the expenses for their funeral.

What distinguishes the 2011 report from previous years is the dramatic increase in the number of public executions. The number of executions carried out publicly in 2011 in Iran is more than three times higher than the average in the previous years.

There is no indication that the Iranian authorities' execution machine will slow down in 2012. In the first two weeks of January 2012, an average of 3-4 people have been executed in Iran every day. By the end of January 2011, 11 executions have been carried out publicly.

At the same time, Iranian authorities are threatening to execute more people for other “crimes”. The Iranian Supreme Court has recently approved the death sentence of Iranian-born Canadian permanent resident Saeed Malekpour for running “obscene” websites. He is now at imminent danger of execution.

Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who converted to Christianity at the age of 19 and who was sentenced to death for Apostasy in 2010, might also be in danger of execution. There is serious concern that approval of the new Islamic Penal Code (IPC) by the Guardian Council might lead to more death penalties for Apostasy.

Iran Human Rights is also concerned about reports indicating Kurdish political prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi might be in danger of execution.

There are also indications that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani- the 43-year-old mother of two whose stoning death sentence was stopped, thanks to a worldwide campaign- might be in danger of execution.

Recently, an Iranian judge has indicated that the stoning verdict for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani can be converted to death by hanging.

Commenting on this report, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: “There is little doubt that the Iranian authorities use the death penalty as a political mean. The dramatic increase in the number of executions shows that the Iranian regime is more than ever dependent on spreading fear to prolong its survival. Death penalty in general and public executions in particular- are the Iranian regime's most important instrument for creating fear in the society.” He added: “We urge the international community to put sustainable focus on the human rights violations and particularly on the death penalty in Iran, and take further steps to stop the Iranian regime's execution machine.”

The figures included in this report are mainly based on information announced by the Iranian authorities. However, some figures are based on reports from reliable unofficial sources. During the past two years IHR has concluded that the number of the executions not announced by the official Iranian sources is much higher than previously anticipated. A significant portion of the unofficial figures included in this report has been prepared thanks to the individuals in Iran who, despite all the risks, have contributed with invaluable information to make the report somehow closer to the reality. IHR must emphasize that the actual number of the executions in Iran is probably much higher than the figures included in its annual report.

Sources

The present report uses the Iranian authorities as its main source. 62% of the executions reported here are based on the news published by state-run media news agencies and newspapers and the statements made by high-ranking officials within the Iranian judiciary. Like last year, IHR has received reports on large numbers of executions that have not been announced by official Iranian sources. Many cases are directly communicated to IHR (though a direct witness, family member, lawyer, or key sources within the Judiciary) or reached us through other human rights organizations. The annual report only includes non-official cases which have been confirmed by at least two different independent sources.

Some facts:

• At least 676 people were executed according to IHR's annual report 2011

• 416 of the 676 executions (62%) were announced by the Iranian authorities

• 65 executions were carried out in public. This is the highest number of public executions in more than 10 years.

• At least 4 juvenile offenders were among those executed in Iran in 2011

• At least 15 women were executed in 2011. Executions of 13 of these women were not announced by the Iranian authorities

• 3 young men were executed convicted of sodomy

• One man was executed convicted of “apostasy”

• More than 80% of those executed were convicted of drug trafficking

• Only 9% of those officially executed for drug charges were fully identified

• IHR has received reports of secret or “un-announced” executions in more than 15 different Iranian prisons

• More than 70 additional executions reported to IHR, are not included in the annual report due to difficulties in confirming some of the details

2011: The highest number of annual executions in the past 11 years Sources: Amnesty International (AI) and Iran Human Rights (IHR):

• 2000: 165 (AI)

• 2001: 75 (AI)

• 2002: 316 (AI)

• 2003: 154 (AI)

• 2004: 108 (AI)

• 2005: 94 (AI)

• 2006: 177 (AI)

• 2007: 317 (AI)

• 2008: 350 (IHR), (346; AI)

• 2009: 402 (IHR), (388; AI)

• 2010: 546 (IHR) (adjusted to 646)*

• 2011: 676 (IHR) : Official: 416 non-official: 260

* 100 of the 140 executions in the province of South Khorasan (Birjand) that were confirmed by the Iranian officials have been added to the 2010 numbers

Drug trafficking:

As in previous years drug trafficking was the most frequently used charge against those who were executed in 2011 in Iran. 81 % of those executed in 2011 (71% of the official and 88% of the unofficail cases) in Iran were convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death by the revolutionary courts. The trials were conducted behind the closed doors and it is not known whether the prisoners had access to lawyer or not. Since more than 80% (91% of the official and 81% of the unofficial cases) of those executed for drug-related charges are not identified by last (family) name it is not possible to confirm the charges. In 2011, there was at least one person who was primarily arrested sentenced to death for participation in anti-regime protests, but was later executed convicted of drug trafficking (see Case 2, below). IHR can not rule out that there might be other similar cases among those executed for drug trafficking.

The figures presented in this report are in line with the report published by Amnesty International in December 2011 (Amnesty International report: Addicted to death).

IHR has received reports indicating that many of those executed convicted of drug trafficking have not been subjected to fair trials.

Case 1:Executed for drug trafficking:

Three women - Leila Hayati, Hourieh Sabahi and Roghieh Khalaji- and two men- Mostafa Ahmadi and Ghanbar Shojaei- were arrested in January 2009 and charged with keeping and trafficking of narcotic drugs. They had no access to lawyer during their interrogations and were tried and sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Hamedan, with no right to appeal. Laila Hayati was executed on September 28 while the four others were executed on October 8. None of the executions were announced by the official Iranian sources.

Hourieh Sabahi (35) was alone mother of five children, one of them being disabled, and Roghieh Khalaji (32) was alone mother of a 12-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter when they were arrested. Hourieh's family didn't even have the money to pay for her funeral after her execution. These are only some examples among the several hundred who were executed for “drug trafficking”.

Case 2: Arrested after a protest demonstration but executed for drug trafficking

Execution for sodomy:

Six young men were executed in Ahvaz on September 5. The state run Iranian news agency ISNA reported that three of those executed were sentenced to death by the Ahvaz evolution court, convicted of "unlawful" acts and acts against Sharia, based on the articles 108 and 110 of the Iranian Islamic penal code.

Articles 108 and 110 of the Iranian Islamic Penal code are part of the chapter covering the punishment of "Hadd" for “sodomy”. Article 108 says: “sodomy” (or Lavat) is sexual intercourse between men”, and article 110 says:”Punishment for sodomy is killing; the Sharia judge decides on how to carry out the killing". The spokesperson of Iran Human Rights (IHR), Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said:”(these) executions for sodomy might be among the rare cases were the Iranian authorities admit to having executed men convicted of homosexual acts". He added: "Iranian authorities normally present such cases as rape, but rape as not been mentioned in this case".

There have been some changes made in the new IPC recently approved by the Guardian Council. The term “homosexual” is presented as a charge in the new law for men who engage in same-sex relations. Previously it was only used for women.

***

Punishment for homosexuality is flogging or death under Iran's new Islamic Penal Code:

Article 233: the person who played an active role (in sodomy) will be flogged 100 times if the sex was consensual and he was not married, but the one who played a passive role will be sentenced to death regardless of his marriage status. If the active part is none Muslim and the passive part Muslim, both will be sentenced to death.

Articles 236-237: Homosexual acts (except for sodomy) will be punished with 31 -99 lashes (both for men and women)

Article 238: Homosexual relationship between women where there is contact between their sexual organs will be punished with 100 lashes

***

Moharebeh:

Moharebeh (war against God) is a term commonly used by the Iranian authorities for those who are either involved in armed struggle against the authorities or have connections with such groups. Some of those who were convicted of Moharebeh through connection with the banned opposition groups are named below:

 Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei: Both convicted of Moharebeh through connections with the banned organization Mojahedin-e-Khalgh ( MEK/MKO). They had allegedly visited their children who were staying at Camp Ashraf, participated in the post-election protest demonstrations and sent pictures and reports of the demonstrations to MKO sources outside the country. They were executed in Tehran's Evin prison on January 24.

 Hussein Khezri, convicted of Moharebeh through membership in the banned Kurdish organization PJAK. He was executed on January 15. in the prison of Urmia

 Farhad Tarom was executed for membership in the Kurdish Democratic Party on January 26. in the prison of Urmia

Apostasy:

The sentence of Apostasy in Sharia is death, but Apostasy is not explicitly mentioned in the new IPC. However, the new law makes it easier for judges to issue the death penalty for Apostasy because the new article 220 states: “If the present law is silent about any of the “hodoud” cases, the judge is referred to article 167 of the Constitution.” Article 167 of the Constitution states: "The Judge is bound to attempt to rule on each case, on the basis of the codified law. In case of the absence of any such law, he has to deliver his judgment on the basis of official Islamic sources and authentic fatwa.” The reference to article 167 was previously made in the Civil code but now it is also included in the Penal Law.

Executions of minor offenders:

Iran continued executions of juvenile offenders in 2011. At least four people were convicted of offences they had allegedly committed when they were under the age of 18. Two of them were under 18 years of age at the time they were executed. Two other juvenile offenders were executed in 2011 according to unofficial sources but IHR hasn't confirmed their age yet.

1. Alireza Molla-Soltani (17): Convicted of murder, Alireza Molla-Soltani was hanged publicly on September 21, 2011 when he was still 17 years old. Source: Iranian media

2. A. N. : Convicted of rape and murder in 2008 when he was 17 years old. Hanged publicly together with three others in Bandar Abbas on April 21. Source: Iranian media

3. H. B.: Involved in the same case as A.N., was 17 years old at the time committing the offence. Hanged publicly together with three others in Bandar Abbas on April 21. Source: Iranian media

4. Hamid Hashemi (16): Belonging to the Arab minority in Ahwaz, was according to Ahwaz news executed in the prison of Ahwaz together with five others allegedly because of participating in a protest. Source: Ahwaz news, Unofficial

5. Vahid M.: Executed for drug trafficking on September 18 according to the state run ISNA news agency. Full name: Vahid Moslemi, Afghan citizen who according to the rights group “Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran” (HRADI) was a juvenile when arrested (age not yet confirmed by IHR)

6. Mohammad N.: Executed together with Vahid M. and 20 other prisoners on September 18 (ISNA). Full name: Mohammad Nourozi, Afghan citizen and juvenile when he was arrested according to HRADI (age not yet confirmed by IHR).

***

Iran has ratified UN convention on the rights of the child which bans death penalty for the offences committed at under 18 years of age. But according to the IranianIslamic penal the minimum criminal age I 9 years for girls and 15 years for boys. In the new IPC that was recently ratified by the Guardian Council some changes have been made with regards to death penalty for juveniles. However, according to the article 90 of the new law a death sentence may still be applied for a juvenile who has reached “maturity”, if he or she has committed crimes that are considered to be "claims of God" and therefore have mandatory sentences (such as sodomy, rape, theft, fornication, apostasy and consumption of alcohol for the forth time).

***

Women:

Execution of only three of the (at least) 15 women who were executed in 2011 has been reported by the Iranian authorities. The other executions have been reported to us through reliable unofficial sources. This trend might indicate that the Iranian authorities do not announce execution of the women prisoners in order to avoid international attention since the international opinion seems to be more sensitive to execution of women.

1. Zahra Bahrami: Executed on January 28 in Tehran's Evin prison. Iranian-Dutch citizen. Charge: drug trafficking. Originally arrested in connection with anti-regime protests and sentenced to death for Moharebeh. (Source: Iranian state media)

2. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on February 28 in the prison of Urmia. Charge: drug trafficking (Source: HRANA)

3. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on February 28 in the prison of Urmia. Charge: drug trafficking (Source: HRANA)

4. Adiva Mirza Soleiman: Executed on March 14 in Tehran. Jewish. Charge: Unknown (Source: HRANA)

5. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on March 14 in Tehran. . Charge: Unknown (Source: HRANA)

6. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on May 24 in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad. Charge: drug trafficking(Source: ICHR)

7. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on May 24 in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad . Charge: drug trafficking (Source: ICHR)

8. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on May 24 in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad. Charge: drug trafficking (Source: ICHR)

9. Begam N.: Executed on July 20 in the prison of Rafsanjan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: ISNA, Iranian state media)

10. Leila Hayati: 29 year old, executed on September 28 in Hamedan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: IHR)

11. S. M. B.: Executed on October 3 in Rasht. Charge: Adultery, allegedly sentenced to death by stoning, but hanged. (Source: IHR, further details are being investigated)

12. Roghiyeh Khalaj: 32 year old, executed on October 5 in Hamedan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: IHR)

13. Horiyeh Sabahi: 35 year old, executed on October 5 in Hamedan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: IHR)

14. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on November 29 in the prison of Kermanshah. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: Fars news agency, Iranian state media)

15. Nahid A.: Executed on December 24 in the prison of Urmia. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: Mukrian news agency)

Public executions:

In 2011 Iranian authorities carried out a record number of at least 65 public executions. Six of these executions have not been reported by the Iranian authorities.

Most of those hanged publicly were convicted of Rape/sexual assaults (30 of 66), followed by murder ( 16 ), Moharebeh/armed robbery (10), drug trafficking (6) and kidnapping (1).In at least 2 of the public hangings, the execution was carried out by a civilian (as qesas, or retribution)

Geographical distribution of the public executions:

A child is watching a public execution in Iran in Khomeinishahr in October 2011. IHR has urged the international community and the United Nations to put a ban on the public executions.

Reports of secret/non-official executions

In 2011 IHR received a large number of reports about executions not reported by the Iranian authorities. Execution reports from more than 15 different prisons throughout Iran have been confirmed. IHR has received reports of more than 70 other executions that haven't been included in the present reports. These cases are in the process of being confirmed.

Some of the unofficial executions are not announced by official media, but the lawyers and family members of the prisoners were notified prior to the execution. In other cases, executions are categorized as “secret” since neither the lawyers or family members were informed before the execution took place.

IHR received reports in 2010 of 60-70 executions carried out in Birjand prison. Due to the lack of details surrounding their cases, those executions were not included in the annual report. However, In June 2011, Mohammad Bagher Bagheri, a provincial Justice Ministry official in the South Khorasan province, said 140 drug smugglers had been executed in the province in the past Iranian year (21 March 2010 to 20 March 2011; Mehr News agency, 25. June 2011). IHR has received credible reports about three episodes of executions in Birjand prison in the period from January 2011 to March 2011. Two of these episodes have been confirmed by Iran's Prosecutor General Mohseni Ejei (Fars news agency 31. January 2011; Siasat-e-rooz, 28. February 2011). Based on the available information IHR has included 100 of the 140 Birjand executions in the 2010 annual report (causing the annual number to increase from 546 to 646). Additionally, 40 of the executions are included in the 2011 annual report.

The primary sources for the other un-announced executions have been Iran Human Rights (IHR), Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI), International Campaign for the Human Rights (ICHR), Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mukrian news agency, Ahwaz news, RAHANA, Association for Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran (ADAPP), Iran Human Rights Documentation center (iranhrdc) and the Boroumand Foundation.

IHR has only included the cases that have been confirmed by two independent sources, in its annual report.

For questions and comments write to mail@iranhr.net

Nine prisoners, among them one woman, were executed in Iran today- Three of the prisoners hanged in the public

Iran Human Rights — 2011-11-29T21:26:04Z

Iran Human Rights, November 29: Nine prisoners were executed in two different Iranian cities this morning Tuesday 29. November, reported the official Iranian news agencies.

One woman and five men were hanged in the prison of Kermanshah:

According to the staet run Fars news agency six prisoners were hanged in the prison of Kermanshah early this morning. Quoting Kermanshah's prosecuter Mojtaba Maleki the report said: "Six prisoners, among them five men and one woman, were sentenced to death convicted of drug trafficking". None of the prisoners were identified by name.

Two prisoners were publicly hanged in Kermanshah:

According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, two young men identified as "H. H." and "M. R." were hanged in the Azadi (freedom) Square of Kermanshah this morning. The men were convicted of kidnapping and rape of five women, said the report.

Fars news agency reported that the men were 23 and 25 years old.

One prisoner was hanged publicly in Saveh:

A young man identified as "M.S." was hanged publicly in the Khalij-e-Fars (Persian Gulf) Square of Saveh (West of Tehran) reported the state rn Iranian news agency ISNA. The execution took place this morning and the prisoner was convicted of raping a woman two years ago, according to the report.

According to the sources IHR has been in contact with, the prisoner's name was "Mansor Salamat".

UPDATE: Acid Blinding Punishment Stopped in Tehran

IHR-NA — 2011-07-31T12:26:09Z

Iran Human Rights, July 31: The retribution sentence of a man convicted of throwing acid in the face of a woman was set to take place this morning in Tehran but it was not implemented. Majid Movahedi was pardoned by Ameneh Bahrami, according to a report by the Iranian state-run news agency ISNA.

“By the request of the acid attack victim Ameneh Bahrami, Majid (Movahedi), who was sentenced to ‘qesas' (an ‘eye for an eye'-style justice), was pardoned last minute after Ameneh Bahrami decided to forgo her right [to retribution]," said the report.

Majid Movahedi was sentenced by a Tehran court to blinding by ten drops of sulfuric acid in 2008. His crime was splashing acid on Ameneh Bahrami four years earlier because she had allegedly spurned his marriage proposals. The acid had severely burned Ameneh Bahrami's face and blinded her. The retribution sentence was approved by the Iranian Supreme Court in February 2009.

Ameneh Bahrami told ISNA in an interview today that she pardoned Majid Movahedi because, “God talks about qesas (retribution) in the Qur'an but he also recommends pardon, because it is greater than qesas.”

“I did it for my country, since all other countries were looking to see what we would do,” she added.

Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi hailed Ameneh Bahrami's decision but also said that the Judiciary would have carried out the acid blinding punishment.

The sentence was about to be carried out once before in May 2011, but it was halted by the Iranian authorities without any official reason(s) given. It is believed that the massive international pressure the case received was instrumental in the decision by Iranian authorities to postpone the punishment.

According to knowledgeable sources who wanted to stay anonymous, the acid blinding case had become a headache for the Iranian authorities because of the growing international condemnations. They did not want to lose face by giving in to the pressure.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights (IHR) welcomed the decision of cancelling the acid blinding sentence. "We ask for the removal of barbaric punishments like stoning, blinding and amputations. These medieval sentences are currently a part of the Iranian penal law," he said.

IHR congratulates Ameneh Bahrami for not taking part in the grotesque punishment and urges the Iranian authorities to help Ameneh Bahrami so she may receive the needed medical treatment and economic compensation.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said, "We express our compassion with Ameneh Bahrami. As an Iranian citizen, Ameneh Bahrami deserves to get her medical treatment covered by the Iranian government and receive economic compensation for losing years of her life."

A man will be punished by dripping acid into his eyes in Tehran on Saturday May 14- Norway condemns the punishment

Iran Human Rights — 2011-05-12T07:12:35Z

Iran Human Rights, May 12: Acid will be dripped into the eyes of an Iranian man sentenced by a court in Tehran to qesas (retribution) on Saturday May 14th.

According to reports from the Iranian media Majid Movahedi who was sentenced to retribution by blindness in both eyes after he in 2004 blinded Ameneh Bahrami, the woman who spurned his marriage proposals, will be punished at Dadgostari hospital of Tehran on Saturday. According to these reports Ameneh herself is going to drip acid into Majid's eyes and there will be specialists present to conduct the punishment if Ameneh denies doing so.

A court in the Iranian capital Tehran sentenced Majid to "blindness in both eyes" by dripping ten drops of sulphuric acid into his eyes, in November 2008.

The sentence was approved by the Iranian Supreme Court in February 2009.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights (IHR) strongly condemned what he called a barbaric and grotesque punishment and said:”The international community must not let this barbaric punishment happen". He added:”Leaders of the Iranian regime should be held responsible for the barbaric and grotesque punishment of dripping acid in Majid's eyes. By letting Ameneh conduct the punishment the Iranian authorities want to put the blame for this inhumane act on her shoulder".

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam asked the doctors to denie taking part in the barbaric punishment and said that by doing so they will be breaking their professional oath.

Commenting the discriminatory laws against the women in Iran, Amiry-Moghaddam said:”By being a woman, Ameneh is also a victim of the Iranian regime's gender apartheid politics. Iranian authorities encourage violence against the women. According to the Iranian laws a woman who is not covered properly can be lashed up to 74 times, so the authorities are also responsible for the growing violence against the women in the Iranian society, as in Ameneh's case".

Norway condemns the punishment:

Norwegian government condemned the punishment of dripping acid in the eyes.

State Secretary Ms. gry Larsen,said in a statement:
Blinding with acid is a cruel punishment procedure that is not worthy of a civilized society, ".

The statement says: Punishment method is clearly a violation of both Iran's international obligations, including the prohibition against torture. The fact that the victim himself to carry out the punishment in violation of the principle that criminal conduct is the state's responsibility. The doctors attending the punishment is also a clear violation of medical ethics principles. It is not known to be blinding with acid has been used as a method of punishment in the past.

- We will strongly encourage Iran to stop the implementation of such an inhuman punishment, "says the State secretary Larsen.

Background:

Majid Movahedi is convicted of pouring acid on the face of Ameneh Bahrami (27), a girl with whom he allegedly wished to marry. This happened in 2004.

As a result of the injuries Ameneh lost the sight on one eye and most of the sight on the other eye. Ameneh has been going through several surgical operations on her face and eyes.

In 2008, a court in Tehran sentenced Majid to eye for eye retribution. He was sentenced to lose the sight in both his eyes as well as economic compensation to Ameneh.

Iranian Supreme Court approved the sentence in February 2009. According to the sentence issued by the court, ten drops of acid sulphuric will be dripped into each of Majid's eyes!

The punishment will be conducted on Saturday May 14th.