Afghan Sobhan Eftekharedin Executed in Aligudarz

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, an Afghan man was executed in Aligudarz Prison in Lorestan province on 27 August. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Sobhan Eftekharedin who was sentenced qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

Informed sources told Iran Human Rights: “Sobhan Eftekharedin was arrested three and a half years ago and sentenced to qisas. His cousin was also executed for drug-related charges at the prison last year.”

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, as the plaintiffs, are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

It is important to note that Afghan nationals constitute the largest group of non-Iranian executions and death row cases in Iranian prisons. In 2021, no execution of Afghan nationals was recorded until September, when five men were executed in the space of 35 days. On 10 October 2021, Iran Human Rights expressed its concern that the Taliban takeover in August had facilitated the execution of Afghan nationals. That number more than tripled in 2022, with 16 Afghan nationals including a juvenile offender and a woman executed. At least 14 Afghans have been executed in 2023 so far, with two publicly hanged on 8 July.