Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 18, 2021: Mostafa Pourahmad and Mojtaba Bagheri, both sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, have been executed in Rasht Central Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Rasht Central Prison on the morning of November 18. Their identities have been established as 35-year-old Mostafa Pourahmad and 40-year-old Mojtaba Bagheri.
Informed sources told Iran Human Rights: “They were due to be executed on Saturday but they were executed today. The victim’s next of kin had given their power of attorney to the prosecutor to carry out the sentence and were not present themselves.”
Iran Human Rights had previously reported on the transfer of the two men to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions on November 14.
At the time of writing, their executions have 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.