Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); March 14, 2022: Hafizollah Rakhshani, a Baluch man sentenced to qisas for murder, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison.
According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on the morning of March 13. His identity has been reported as 30-year-old Hafizollah Rakhshani who was a Shir Abad resident in Zahedan and had been sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.
He was arrested for the charges in 2014 and had been behind bars since.
At the time of writing, his 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 and no grading, 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.