Massoud Shehbakhsh Executed in Zahedan

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 26 July. His identity has been reported as Massoud Shehbakhsh (Notizehi) who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

Massoud was from the Cheshmeh Ziarat region in Zahedan and a father of two children.

At the time of writing, his execution has 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.

Ethnic minorities, the Baluch in particular, are grossly overrepresented in execution numbers in Iran. In 2022, at least 174 Baluch minorities including 3 women, were executed in 22 prisons across Iran, making up 30% of overall executions. This is while they represent just 2-6% of Iran’s population. Furthermore, in the first six months of 2023, 20% of the at least 354 executions were Baluch people.