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Baluch Woman Soudabeh Irandegani to be Executed if She Cannot Pay Blood Money in 10 Days

19 Oct 24
Baluch Woman Soudabeh Irandegani to be Executed if She Cannot Pay Blood Money in 10 Days

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 19, 2024: Soudabeh Irandegani, a Baluch woman on death row for murder, is scheduled to be executed in Iranshahr Prison on 29 October if she cannot pay the €32k demanded by the victim’s family. Per informed sources, Soudabeh took responsibility for the murder to save her son.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Soudabeh Irandegani, a 34-year-old Baluch mother of six, is at imminent risk of execution in Iranshahr Prison.

She was arrested on 28 October 2021 and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Soudabeh didn’t actually commit murder, she took the fall for her son. Soudabeh was arguing with another woman when both their children got involved and unfortunately the other woman’s five-year-old was killed. Soudabeh claimed responsibility to save her son.”

“The victims family have asked for 2 billion tomans (€32,000) as diya by 29 October. 800 million tomans has been paid but she will be executed if the rest isn’t paid by the deadline,” the source added.

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. Crucially, while an indicative amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money.

In 2023, at least 282 people including two juvenile offenders and 15 women, were executed for murder charges, the second highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Only 20% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2023, Iran Human Rights also recorded 857 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.