Mehdi Iranian and Ms Bagherinejad Hanged in Shiraz

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man and a woman were executed in Shiraz (Adel Abad) Central Prison on 18 February 2025. Their identities have been established as 28-year-old Mehdi Iranian and 45-year-old Ms Bagherinejad who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder in separate cases.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Mehdi was arrested four years ago for allegedly stabbing someone with a dagger during a fight. Ms Bagherinejad was arrested for the murder of her husband five years ago.”

At the time of writing, their executions have not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Ms Bagherinejad is the third woman execution recorded in 2025. Iran is the top executioner of women worldwide. According to IHRNGO’s January 2025 report, at least 241 women were executed between 2010- 2024. Over 69% of the known murder cases, the women were convicted of killing their husbands or partners. In the report, IHRNGO highlights the discriminatory laws and societal factors that women face and makes them more vulnerable in the context of the death penalty.

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.

UPDATE: Mehdi Iranian's full name has been established as Mehdi Iranianpour. Below is his death notice.