Shaban Yousefi and Unidentified Man Executed in Gorgan

According to HRANA news agency, two men were executed in Gorgan Central Prison on 16 May. Their identities have been reported as Shaban Yousefi and a man only identified as Bezi (surname unknown), who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source said: “Bezi had committed the murder during a fight over inheritance and sentenced to death.”

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

According to the 2022 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 582 people were executed in Iran. Of those, 288 were executed for murder charges.

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.