Iran: 411 Executions in the First Half of 2014

– JULY 9, 2014POSTED IN: EXECUTION, EXECUTION FOR DRUG CHARGES, EXECUTION FOR MURDER, FEATURE, MASS EXECUTIONS, MINOR EXECUTION, REPORTS

For Comments contact:

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Spokesperson of Iran Human Righta

Tel: +47 91742177

mail@iranhr.net

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At least 411 prisoners have been executed in Iran from the beginning of January 2014 to the end of June of the same year. This indicates that the execution wave, which recommenced after the most recent Iranian presidential election, is continuing. According to reports by Iran Human Rights (IHR), more than 870 people have been executed since the election of Mr. Hassan Rouhani in June 2013. IHR calls on the international community to take serious measures to stop the execution wave in Iran.

Iran Human Rights, July 7, 2014: One year after the Iranian presidential election of June 2013, and despite improvements in relations between the international community and Iran, a recent report by Iran Human Rights (IHR) shows that the use of the death penalty is higher now than in two decades. According to the latest report by IHR, at least 411 people have been executed in the first six months of 2014, and at least 870 people have been executed during the first year after the presidential elections (between July 1, July 2013 and June 30, 2014). This is an average of more than two executions in Iran every day. Among those executed so far in 2014, there have been at least eight juvenile offenders and six political and civil activists.

IHR calls on the international community to take serious measures to stop the execution wave in Iran. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR says: “The increase in the number of executions after the Iranian presidential election of June 2013 is dramatic and needs special attention from the international community. We support Ms. Navi Pillay’s call to include human rights in the nuclear talks taking place between the 5+1 and Iran.” Amiry-Moghaddam added: “The arbitrary executions going on in Iran must have consequences for the Iranian authorities.”

Last week the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay said: “Talks between Iran and six world powers aimed at clinching a deal on Iran’s contested nuclear program should include human rights concerns.”

In November 2013, World Coalition against the Death Penalty called on the UN and EU to put the death penalty on top of the agenda on Iran talks.

According to IHR’s report on the death penalty, in the first half of this year 166 executions have been announced by official Iranian sources while 245 additional executions have been reported by human rights groups and confirmed by several independent sources. 43% of the executions in Iran are reportedly based on murder and 42% of the executions are reportedly due to drug-related charges. At least 8 of those executed in 2014 were juveniles (under 18 the age of 18) at the time of committing the alleged offence.

Last year at least 687 people were executed, according to IHR’s 2013 annual report on the death penalty. 68% of these executions took place after the election of Hassan Rouhani.

execution of 11 prisoners in Ghezelhesar Prison

Mass execution of 11 prisoners in Ghezelhesar Prison of Iran

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According to reports received by Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI),eleven prisoners were hanged in Ghezelhesar prison located in Karaj on the  morning  of  26th June, 2014.  

Iran Human Rights, June 27:  Yesterday June 26, at least eleven prisoners from Wings 1, 2, 3 and 8 of Cell Block 2 of Ghezelhesar Prison were hanged in Karaj, according to HRDAI. The executed prisoners were between 25 and 40 years of age.

Twelve prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in prison prior to the execution on Wednesday, June 25. Eleven of them were then executed the next morning, but the execution of one of them, named Ghasem, was postponed.

The names of some of the prisoners executed today are as follows:

1.  Islam (surname unknown), from Wing 1, Cell Block 2.
2.  Mahdi A’layi, 30 years old, was a prisoner of about two years in Wing 2, Cell Block 2.
3. KarimAziz Zadeh, 40 years old, was a prisoner of approximately four years inWing 2,Cell Block 2.
4. Bahram Rezvan Panah, 40 years old, was a prisoner of more than two years in Wing 2, Cell Block 2.
5. Mohammad Eghbal, 31 years old, was a prisoner of approximately one and half years in Wing 2, Cell Block 2.
6. Karim Bagheri, 35 years old, was a prisoner of two years in Wing 2, Cell Block 2.
7. Davood Karami, 40 years old, was a prisoner of more than three years in Wing 2, Cell Block 2.
8. Borzoo Khosravi, 28 years old, was a prisoner of approximately five years in Wing 3, Cell Block 2.
9. Kiomars Gholami, 25 years old, was a prisoner of more than ten months in Wing 3, Cell Block 2.
10. Siamak Heidari , 27 years old, from Wing 3 , Cell Block 2.

The official Iranian sources haven’t reported these executions yet. The charges for which the prisoners were sentenced to death have not been confirmed yet.

Seven Prisoners Executed For Drug

Seven Prisoners Executed For Drug-Related Charges in Northern Iran

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Iran Human Rights, June 23, 2014: Seven prisoners were hanged in the prison of Rasht (Northern Iran) reported the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Gilan Province.

According to the report all the seven prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges. The prisoners were identified as M.H. charged with participation in buying two kilograms of the narcotic drug Crystal, S. G. for trafficking of 2851 grams of heroin, A. D. for manufacturing and trafficking of three kilograms of concentrated heroin, J. Kh. for buying and selling 100 kilograms of opium and possession of 14810 grams of crack, A. A. for participation in buying 147 kilograms of cannabis and eight kilograms of opium, A. S. for possession of six kilograms and 12 grams of heroin and B. B. for possession and trafficking of 2368 grams of crack.