Hamed Mousavi Executed for Accidental Death in Ardabil

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Ardabil Central Prison on 4 May. His identity has been established 23-year-old Hamed Mousavi who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Hamed Mousavi was transferred to the gallows from the youth ward. He was sentenced to death for the murder of his wife. Hamed had borrowed a hunting rifle from his friend because he loved them. He thought there were no bullets in the rifle and pointed it at his wife as a joke. But there was one bullet left in the rifle which killed his wife.”

“Hamed was arrested three and a half years ago, when he was under 20. He always said: ‘I was in love with my wife, it was joke and I never wanted to lose my wife.’”

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media and officials in Iran.

According to data collected by Iran Human Rights, at least 582 people were executed in 2022. Only 71 (12%) were reported by official sources.

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.