Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); May 8, 2023: Two unidentified men have been executed for murder charges in Rajai Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison, raising the number of executions that day at the prison to four. Seven others are at risk of execution. More than 200 people have been executed in Iran in 2023.
According to Rokna, at least two men were executed in Rajai Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison on 3 May. They have been named as 47-year-old Sirous (surname unknown) and a young man named Behzad who were both sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
Sirous is alleged to have killed several family members in Tehran around five years ago. Behzad was accused of committing murder during a mass street fight.
Iran Human Rights reported the executions of Saeed Saleh and Hossein Amirabadi at the prison that day. The four men were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions along with a fifth man whose fate is still unknown.
Informed sources told Iran Human Rights that at least seven other prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions on 7 May.
According to Iran Human Rights data, at least 203 people have been executed in Iran in 2023. Execution rates are currently at a particular high, with at least 51 people executed in the last two weeks.
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.