8 Men Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in a Day

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, eight men were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on the morning of May 25. Six of the men have been identified as Ramin Arab, Abbas Bitarafan, Gholamhossein Zeinali, Ali Nosrati, Vahid Mianabadi and Ali Montazeri.

Ramin Arab was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery and the other seven men were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Ten men were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions over the last few days. Most of them were held in Ward 2 prior to their execution. Two of the men were returned to their cells after obtaining extensions from their victim’s family.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Karim Bagheri the football player was at the prison and was trying to gain forgiveness for Abbas Bitarafan from the victim’s family but they refused. Karim Bagheri also tried to speak to the other families and eventually two of the men were returned to their cells.”

“Ramin Arab had severely self-harmed prior to execution and was transferred to the hospital. They took him to the gallows from the hospital,” the source added.

Yesterday, Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi announced that a prisoner with the initials R.A had been executed. Though the location was not specified, he seemed to have been referring to Ramin Arab.

At the time of writing, the other seven prisoners’ executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

According to data gathered by Iran Human Rights, at least 183 people were executed on murder charges in 2021. Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.