Iran Human Rights (IHR); June 27, 2021: Two death row prisoners sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Zahedan Central Prison on the morning of June 26. They were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) in the same murder case.
The identity of one of the men has been established as Baluch prisoner, Abdulhamid Ghanbarzehi. At the time of writing, IHR has been unable to confirm the second man’s identity, who was from Isfahan.
“The two prisoners has clashed with the police around Khash and an officer had been killed in the clash,” an informed source told IHR.
The Baluch Activists Campaign had also reported Abdulhamid Ghanbarzehi’s execution.
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.