Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); June 13, 2022: Vali Mohammad Rigi, a Baluch man sentenced to qisas(retribution-in-kind) for murder, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison today.
According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 13 June. His identity has been reported as 62-year-old Vali Mohammad Rigi (Gangozehi) from Zahedan. He was sentenced to qisasfor murder.
At the time of writing, his execution not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
According to data gathered by Iran Human Rights, at least 183 people were executed on murder charges in 2021. 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.
Data gathered by Iran Human Rights also shows that Baluch prisoners accounted for 21% of all executions in 2021, while only representing 2–6% of Iran’s population. Furthermore, 25% of the 168 recorded executions in the first five months of 2022 were Baluch minorities.