5 Men Transferred for Execution in Urmia Central Prison

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, on March 14, five men were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions in Urmia Central Prison (Darya).

The five men’s identities have been established as Peyman Babakhani, Mir Ali Hosseini, Jafar Esmaili, Saeed Armad and Osman Sahrai. All five were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder and transferred from Wards 1 and 2 of the prison.

Iran Human Rights previously reported the execution of Ebrahim Nasirkhah at the same prison on March 14. He was sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

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.