Prisoner Bayazid Rashidi-Hashtiani Executed in Urmia, Iran

According to Iran Human rights, a man was executed in Urmia Central Prison on the evening of April 9. His identity has been established as Kolhar village native, Bayazid Rashidi-Hashtiani, who was around 40 years old and had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

On April 8, IHR reported that he had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution.

According to an informed source: “Bayazid Rashidi was a father of one and his funeral is currently underway in the village of Kolhar.”

At the time of writing, his execution has not been announced by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Three other prisoners who were identified as Sadegh Mohi, Mohammad Mahmoudi and Ahad Nematvand were also executed on drug-related charges in Urmia Central Prison on April 4.

It has been almost four years since an Article was added to the Anti-Narcotics Law in 2017 to limit death sentences specifically and provide a general degree of reprieve in some cases. However, while the numbers reduced that year, the death penalty is still being used in drug-related cases.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 25 people were executed on drug-related charges in 2020.