At least Two Prisoners Including Father of 7 Year Old Child Executed on Drug Charges

Iran Human Rights (JULY 12 2017): A prisoner was reportedly executed at Mahabad Prison and at least one prisoner was reportedly executed at Rasht's central prison. Both prisoners were reportedly executed on drug related charges. 

According to close sources, the prisoner at Mahabad Prison was executed on the morning of Monday July 10. Iran Human Rights has obtained the name of this prisoner: Sheikh Morad Ebrahimi (pictured below). 

"Sheikh Morad was arrested five years ago on the charge of possession and trafficking of two kilograms of morphine. He was sentenced to death even though he had no criminal record. He is the father of a seven-year-old girl with autism," an informed source told Iran Human Rights.

According to a report by the human rights news agency, HRANA, the prisoner at Rasht's central prison was executed on the morning of Saturday July 8. The report identifies the prisoner as Hossein Hosseini, 32 years of age. Mr. Hosseini was reportedly arrested in 2013 on the charge of producing crystal meth. According to HRANA, it is likely that a total of seven prisoners were executed on Saturday at this prison, but has not been able to confirm the exact number. 

"At the time of his arrest, they didn't find any narcotics on him. He was convicted based on the claim of police forces that the machinery and equipment they found on him was for producing crystal meth," a source close to the family of Mr. Hosseini told Iran Human Rights. According to the close source, Mr. Hosseini confessed under pressure and physical torture to producing and selling three kilograms of crystal meth. "Other than the forced confession, there was no other evidence against him." 

Iranian authorities are carrying out death sentences for drug related charges at the same time that a bill is being reviewed by the Judicial Commission of the Iranian Parliament calling for the death sentences for many prisoners charged with drug trafficking to be called off. Iranian parliament members had requested from the Judiciary to stop drug related executions for at least five thousand prisoners pending further investigation. However, the request has not stopped the Judiciary from carrying out death sentences for prisoners with drug related charges. 

Iranian official sources, including the media and the Judiciary, have not announced these executions.