Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 28, 2022: Official sources have reported the execution of an unnamed conscript for the murder of a police officer in Rasht Central Prison.
According to Rokna, a man was executed in Rasht Central Prison on July 28. His identity has only been reported as M.F, a 27-year-old conscript who was arrested for the murder of Omid Chayi, a police officer last October and sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind).
Local websites had previously reported that the victim was in charge of the Lahijan Province Public Service Department and repeatedly denied the executed man’s request for an exemption from service.
Men above the age of 18 are required to serve 24 months of compulsory military service in Iran unless they qualify for an exemption. Failure to serve leads to being stripped of their rights. Though there are official statistics, there are many reports of suicide amongst conscripts.
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.
At least 251 including 6 women and 67 Baluch minorities were executed in the first six months of 2022. This is double the number of executions in the same period in 2021 when 117 people were executed.