Iran: Prisoner Ali Behvand Executed at Isfahan Prison

According to Iran Human Rights, a prisoner was executed at Isfahan Central Prison on the morning of 7 September. The identity of the prisoner has been established as Fath-Ali Behvand from the village of Doroud.

An informed source told IHR: “Fath-Ali has been in prison since 2014 on charges of murder. The victim’s family had given him three months to come up with the diyya (blood money), but Fath-Ali was unable to pay their desired amount and his sentence was carried out on Monday.”

At the time of publication, the execution of Fath-Ali Behvand has not been announced by domestic media or official sources in Iran.

According to Iran Human Rights’ annual report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 225 of the 280 of those executed in 2019 were charged with murder.

As there are no legal distinctions made between murder and manslaughter, whether voluntary or involuntary in Iran, those charged under the umbrella term of “premeditated murder” will receive the death penalty regardless of intent and the circumstances.