Bakhtiar Salemi Executed in Shirvan Prison

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Shirvan Prison on the morning of July 25. His identity has been established as Bakhtiar Salemi who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

Speaking to IHR, informed sources said: “Bakhtiar had two children and had been in prison for four years. He had repeatedly claimed his innocence. Someone named [name protected by IHR] who claimed asylum in Turkey was responsible for the murder.”

At the time of writing, his execution has not be 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.