Unnamed Man Executed for Murder in Karaj

According to Rokna, a man was executed in Karaj Penitentiary on May 29. The unnamed 22-year-old man was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

The executed man is reported to have arranged to meet his fiancé in a park in Karaj on the day of the murder in September 2019. His path was suddenly blocked by a group of young men who attacked him on the pretext that he was harassing a girl (his fiancé). To defend himself, he pulled out a knife, stabbing and killing one of the attackers and fled the scene.

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.