Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 12, 2023: State media have reported the execution of a man only identified as Shahab for murder in Qezel Hesar Prison.
According to Etemad Online, a man was executed in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on 11 October. The unidentified man was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
Rokna reported his identity as Shahab (surname unknown) who was arrested for the murder of his friend on 6 November 2011 and sentenced to qisas. He had escaped at the time and was arrested seven years later.
According to his confessions published in Etemad Online: “The murdered man and I were friends. On the night of the incident, we had gone to a café and were both intoxicated. I don’t know how we started arguing and I attacked him with a knife. I stabbed him in the stomach and chest several times and ran away.”
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.