Behzad Alirezaei and Ahmad Samari Executed for Murder in Qazvin

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Qazvin Central Prison on February 13. Their identities have been established as Behzad Alirezaei and Ahmad Samari who were sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “They were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions on Saturday. Behzad Alirezaei was accused of murder during a group fight. But he rejected the charges and said five others were in that fight and the murder wasn’t his fault.”

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

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.