Mohammad Pourkhosravani Executed in Sirjan

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Sirjan Prison on 12 June. His identity has been established as Mohammad Pourkhosravani who was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “Mohammad Pourkhosravani had killed his cousin during a fight in the village of Ebrahim Abad in Sirjan around three years ago. He was executed despite the fact that some family members had forgiven him.”

Despite more than two weeks passing, his execution has 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.