Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 23, 2022: Five men who were on death row for murder, have been executed in Rajai Shahr Prison.
According to Iran Human Rights, five men were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on the morning of February 23. All five men were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
The identities of two of the men have been established as Hamed Azizi and Mehran Jafari.
On February 14, Iran Human Rights reported that a group of men had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions in Rajai Shahr Prison. At least seven other prisoners six of whom have murder charges and one sentenced to death on moharebeh (enmity against god) charges were returned to their cells today. It is not clear whether the men with qisas sentences have managed to obtain extensions in their case or the victim’s family has forgiven them.
Speaking to Iran Human Rights, an informed source said: “Hamed Azizi had killed someone in a fight over a girl. Mehran Jafari had killed his brother-in-law, and even though he had two children, his wife and her brother carried out the execution themselves.”
At the time of writing, none of their executions have 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.