Prisoner Habib Rezaei Executed in Salmas

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a male prisoner was executed in Salmas Prison on Monday, June 21. His identity has been established as Habib Rezaei who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Speaking to IHR, an informed said: “Habib committed murder in a mass fight three years ago. During the fight, one of his friends handed him a dagger and Habib did not intend to kill him.”

“His sentence was upheld around seven months ago and his mother had a heart attacked and died because her son’s sentence had been upheld,” the source added.

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

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 211 of the 267 people executed in 2020 were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for "premeditated 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.