Behnam Khanjani and Farhad Ramezanian Executed for Murder in Rasht

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Rasht Central Prison on June 2. Their identities have been established as Behnam Khanjani and Farhad Ramezanian who were both sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Farhad Ramezanian was sentenced to qisas for the murder of his wife and had spent around seven years behind bars. He was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution on May 17.

At the time of writing, neither of their executions have 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.