Ahmad Panahi Transferred for Murder Execution in Ardabil Central Prison

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution in Aradabil Central Prison on September 10. His identity has been established as Ahmad Panahi who is around 40 years old and has been sentenced to qisas for murder.

Ahmad Pahani was taken to the gallows last month but had managed to obtain a one-month extension from the victim’s family. Informed sources told Iran Human Rights that Ahmad was arrested for an honour killing around four years ago.

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.

At least 251 including 6 women and 67 Baluch minorities were executed in the first six months of 2022. This is double the number of executions in the same period in 2021 when 117 people were executed.