Sobhan Molayi Executed for Honour Killing in Qazvin

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Qazvin Central Prison on the morning of November 17. His identity has been established as 30-year-old Sobhan Molayi who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Sobhan Molayi was a cabinet maker and had killed someone named Mojtaba [surname withheld by IHRNGO] in an honour killing. Sobhan thought his sister was having a close relationship with Mojtaba and gets into a fight with him, which led to Mojtaba being killed. His sister had said that they were just friends and there was nothing going on between them.”

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.