Iran Human Rights (IHR); July 15, 2021: Afshin Gheidar who had been sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison.
According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least one prisoner was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on the morning of July 14. His identity has been established as Afshin Gheidar, who had been sentenced to qisas on murder charges.
The number of executions on Wednesday is likely to have been higher. Another prisoner, Mehdi Ghanbari, was also executed on murder charges at the same prison on July 10.
At the time of writing, Afshin Gheidar’s execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 211 of the 267 people executed in 2020 were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for "premeditated murder."
As there are no legal distinctions made between murder and manslaughter, whether voluntary or involuntary in Iran, those charged under the umbrella term of “premeditated murder” will receive the death penalty regardless of intent and the circumstances.