Group Execution Planned in Zahedan Prison; IHR Warns of New Wave of Executions

In an interview with Emtedad, Iranian human rights lawyer, Mostafa Nilli said that at least five death row inmates in Zahedan Prison had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions. 

He said: “At least ten people are on death row in Zahedan Prison on charges of baghy (armed rebellion) and membership in dissident groups. Of those, four are my clients for whom I am preparing a retrial application after declaring my power of attorney and working on their case in the last month. Their death sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court and they had not yet requested a retrial. In a phone call with one of their family members last night, I was informed that five of them have been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions.”

Mr Nilli has expressed concerns that the men will be deprived of their right of due process and the right to request a retrial in accordance with the Islamic Republic’s laws.

According to IHR sources, the name of the prisoners transferred to solitary confinement are: Javid Dehghan-Khold, Amin Baluch-Zehi, Hassan Dehvari, Abdolrahim Kouhi, Elias Ghalandar-Zehi, Abdolhamid Baluch, Behnam Rigi and Shoaib Rigi.

The majority of the defendants have been sentenced to death for baghy (armed rebellion). Iran Human Rights calls on the international community and activists to help stop these executions and once again warns of the new wave of executions over the Christmas holidays.