Unidentified Man Executed for Murder in Mashhad

According to Khorasan newspaper, a man was executed in Mashhad Central Prison on February 21. He has only been identified as 30-year-old Reza.Gh who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Arrested in November 2018, he was accused of stabbing his friend to death during a financial dispute the month before.

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 and no grading, 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.