Middle East
Iran stoning ruling ‘could change’
Authorities reviewing a death by stoning sentence against an Iranian woman convicted of adultery could still commute the sentence, a senior Iranian judiciary official has said. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was taken from prison late on Saturday to meet journalists to talk about her confession of helping her lover kill her husband. Ashtiani, who has previously appeared on state television, denied that she had been tortured in prison and admitted that she was an accomplice to the murder.
New Iran public execution video highlights ‘brutal’ death penalty
Tunisian uprising sparks execution blitz
An Iranian opposition figure told Asharq al-Awsat that the execution of 10 prisoners in a jail northwest of Tehran last week reflects the Iranian regime's fear of the Tunisian experiment, particularly after the Iranian government lifted the subsidies on numerous basic commodities. Meanwhile, the opposition Mojahdin- e Khalq Organization [MKO] said that Tehran arrested 80 of its cadres in the Ashraf camp in Iraq.
Dutch freeze contacts with Iran over hanging
The Dutch foreign ministry said it was "shocked, shattered by this act by a barbaric regime". Sahra Bahrami, aged 46, was hanged for drug smuggling early on Saturday, Iranian officials said. Her family accuses Tehran of fabricating the case against her after she was detained for taking part in anti-government protests in 2009.
Iran increases hangings for law breakers
What the Executions Say About the Regime’s Control and Murder
The Iranian government executed two more people on Monday. This was the official explanation: "Two elements of the Monafeghin (hypocrites) cell named Jafar Kazemi...and Mohammad Ali Hajaghaei...were executed early today." The "Monafeghin" are the exiled Iranian opposition group, People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI).
Iran hangs 12 people, five of them in public
At least 62 executions in September
During recent days, seven prisoners were hanged in prisons of Shahr Kord, Zabol, Qom and Varamin amounting to 62 executions in Iran in September. Twenty-three of them were executed on September 18 (22 in Gohardasht and Evin prisons and 1 in Ghazvin). At least 38 more prisoners have been executed secretly bringing the number of executions in September to 100.
Iran Executing Hundreds In ‘war On Drugs’
480 Prisoners Hanged From October 2010 to October 2011
The Statistics and Publications Unit of Human Rights Activists in Iran has reported that from October 2010 to October 2011, 480 individuals charged with various crimes have been hanged in Iran. During the same period of time, there have been 641 prisoners sentenced to death and 46 individuals hanged in public.
Iran to execute record numbers in 2011
Iran, which set off a diplomatic storm by hanging a Dutch-Iranian woman, is on target to execute a record number of over 1,000 people this year, rights groups said Sunday. And the execution of Zahra Bahrami is just the latest case of a "serious lack of transparency" in Iran's growing use of capital punishment, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
Secret, Unannounced, Group Executions Continue Inside Iranian Prisons
While Iranian authorities remain silent about the executions of drug traffickers inside Mashad s Vakilabad Prison, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has learned that seven prisoners were hanged on 11 August, and another seven were hanged on 20 September. According to information received from a source, the executions were carried out in groups. All those executed had been charged with drug-related crimes
The two brothers Mohammad and Abdollah Fathi were executed in Isfahan early this morning
Member of Iranian Parliament’s Judicial Commission Expresses Support Public Executions
In an interview published by Fars News Agency, an Iranian member of parliament (MP) supports the implementation of executions publicly. Nayereh Akhavan, an MP from Isfahan and a member of the Judicial Commission of Parliament, told Fars News: 'It seems carrying out such sentences may be effective in preventing certain crimes.' Human rights activists continue to express concern about the negative effects of public hangings on Iranian society.
Prison Guards tell family: “He won’t need winter clothes as he will be executed”
Eghbal Moradi, father of Zanyar Moradi, a Kurdish prisoner at Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the Supreme Court upheld his son s death sentence. My relatives went to prison this week to bring Zanyar warm clothing, as the cold season has come. But prison officials told them that he would not need the clothes as his death sentence has been upheld. They told my relatives this explicitly, adding that they would be informed of the execution date, Eghbal Moradi told the Campaign.
3 young men hanged in public in Kermanshah
Arbitrary arrests, torture and executions continue
Amnesty International is concerned by the Iranian government s continuing clampdown on dissent, including arbitrary arrests and the torture or other ill-treatment of people who express views opposed to those of the government. Some of those arrested have even been executed, after apparently unfair trials, including at least one minor. Amnesty International wrote to the Head of the Judiciary to express concern about these developments on 13 May 2011, but without response; the Iranian authorities rarely reply to communications from Amnesty International.
Iranian Authorities Executed Over 30 People in 2 Weeks
25 people executed in one week
Only One Month to Find, Sentence and Execute Suspects
Yousef Azizi Banitorof, Secretary of the Center for Combating Racism and Discrimination Against Arabs in Iran, who currently resides in London, spoke with International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran following news from the Al Arabiya website quoting Ahwaz News about recent executions in Ahwaz. According to news we were able to receive from our contacts in Ahwaz, three people were hanged in public at Hamidieh Junction.
Regime Returns to Execution Policy
Reports from Ahvaz 9 executed among them one minor
Iran Human Rights: According to the reports from Iran nine people, among them one minor, have been executed in the city of Ahvaz south of Iran. According to the Persian section of Alarabiya (the news website of Alarabiya TV channel), Iran s Judiciary has announced that nine people charged with murder of the security officers and committing acts against chastity, have been executed.
Sharp rise in the rate of executions in public in Iran
Amnesty International has condemned a sharp rise in the rate of executions in public in Iran which have included the first executions of juvenile offenders in the world this year. Since the start of 2011, up to 13 men have been hanged in public, compared to 14 such executions recorded by Amnesty International from official Iranian sources in the whole of 2010.
Four people hanged in public on a beach in the southern Iran
Russia Must Address Human Rights Violations in Iran
190 executions in the year of 2010
Iran using execution binge to repress dissent
International call to stop hundreds of planned executions
14 executions in Orumieh, Kerman, Ahwaz and Qazvin, and mass arrests in various cities
From September 3 to 8, 2011, the inhuman clerical regime hanged 14 prisoners in Orumieh (3 people), Kerman (4 people), Ahwaz (6 people), and Qazvin (1 person). According to the Iranian regime's state media, in the first eight months of 2011 alone, 206 prisoners have been executed. At the same time, at least 228 people have been secretly executed.
Japanese Crane Manufacturer Cuts Ties With Iran
Dr. Maleki’s letter to Ahmed Shaheed I testify to 32 years of crime
In a letter to Ahmad Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Dr. Mohammad Maleki, the first president of Tehran University after the Islamic revolution, declared that he is ready to reveal the crimes he has witnessed over the past 32 years in Iran. Maleki was recently summoned to appear before the court.
Iranian media reacts to human rights report: He was 23 years old!
Iran Human Rights, May 28: Iran Human Rights (IHR) had published a report on May 26th regarding the public execution of "Mehdi Faraji" in Qazvin titled: "Young boy was used to carry out execution of a man in public in Iran". The information was based on eyewitness reports who said, "A young boy was used to draw the chair Mehdi was standing on and carry out the execution."
Iranian lawyer revives Delara who is responsible for her death
The following is a recent letter on Delara Darabi's execution that occurred two years ago, from the blog of Mohammad Mostafaei, one of Delara Darabi's lawyers. Delara was executed in Iran on May 1, 2009. An alternate spelling to Delara's name is Delaram. "Del" in Persian means heart, "aram" means calm.
Interview with human rights activist on executions “silence allows violators set the standards”
The International Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran spoke to human rights activist Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam on his organization's recent annual execution report that covers Iran s 2010 record. The Iran Human Rights group s report states that, according to Iranian sources, "85 people have been executed in January 2011. At least 3 of those executed in January 2011 were arrested in connection with the 2009 post election protests."
Iran executes at least 20 people in three days
A Campaign for Abolishing the Death Penalty in Iran
Case of Saeed Malekpour “Canada, raise your voice louder”
A day after the illegal execution of Iranian-Dutch citizen Zahra Bahrami on January 29, 2011 in Evin prison, the Tehran Prosecutor released a statement on government-controlled news sites about more imminent executions. The announcement caused international Persian media outlets, namely BBC and Voice of America, to go on alert. The Tehran Prosecutor was quoted as saying that the death sentences issued to two admins of obscene websites were sent to the Supreme Court for confirmation and approval .
Zahra Bahrami Executed, Another Victim of Iranian Regime’s Political Game
VOA Reports on Recent Executions
On the morning of January 24th, two more political prisoners were executed in Iran: Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaie, both accused of communicating and cooperating with the PMOI (People s Mujahedin Organization of Iran). The implementation of execution sentences of political and non-political prisoners has increased after the 2009 Iranian Presidential election
Executed Political Prisoner’s Wife ‘They DidnÂ’t Inform Me Or His Lawyer’
Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaie Executed
On Monday morning, two political prisoners, Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaie were executed. According to the announcement by the the Tehran Prosecutor s office, these two political prisoners were labeled as hypocrites who were linked to the hypocrite group (hypocrite is the derogatory term the Islamic Republic of Iran uses to refer to the political opposition group the People s Mujahedin of Iran Organization ) backed by Britain that played a role in post-election protests.
Iranian Regime Executes Average of One Person Every Eight Hours
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called on the Iranian Parliament and the Judiciary to immediately institute a moratorium on executions and to move swiftly to abolish the death penalty, in the face of skyrocketing executions following unfair trials and opaque judicial proceedings.
The Iranian Regime Executed Hossein Khezri in Secret
28 year old Hossein Khezri, an Iranian Kurdish political activist was hanged this morning in Orumiyeh central prison. According to reports by HRANA, on January 2, 2011, a team was sent from Tehran to Orumiyeh central prison to perform Khezri s execution over night. However, due to unknown reasons, prison officials decided to postpone the implementation of the sentence.
The Judge Told My Husband Jafar Kazemi – We should have executed you back in the 1980’s
The case of Jafar Kazemi, a prisoner on death row, has been sent to the branch in the Revolutionary Court responsible for the execution of sentences. The upholding and confirmation of the sentence by the Supreme Court has raised concerns about the sudden [planned] execution of this prisoner of conscience. Jafar Kazemi was sentenced to death on the charges of Moharebeh [Enmity with God] through collaboration and ties with the People s Mujahedin of Iran Organization [PMOI] and propaganda against the regime .
At Least Two Juvenile Offenders Hanged in Iran Last Week
Iran Secretly Executes More People
Interview with father of Habibollah Golparipour, death row political prisoner
Masih Alinejad interviews the father of Habibollah Golparipour, death row Kurdish political prisoner. "The person who does not have empathy and is ignorant toward the pain and suffering of others is not a human being. When I hear the news of executions, my feelings are the same as the family members [whose loved ones were executed]. It was a bitter year."
Iran’s Supreme Court: Death Sentences Will Now Be Issued In Less Than 10 Days
Teacher In Imminent Danger Of Execution
Unidentified People are Taken to the Gallows
Iran public execution outrages human rights groups
A disturbing video of the public execution of three men in Iran has sparked anger among human rights activists. The graphic video, released by Amnesty International on Thursday, showed guards standing on top of buses draping ropes around necks of three convicts sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of rape. The men were later hanged from an overhead bridge after the vehicles drove away.
Iran escalates use of capital punishment
Iran has executed an average of almost two people a day in the first six months of this year, human rights groups have warned. The sharp escalation in the use of capital punishment comes at a time when the Islamic regime is fighting to prevent pro-democracy movements similar to those that have been sweeping across the Middle East from taking hold in the country.
Why is the west funding Iran’s deadly war on drugs
Representatives of more that 50 countries will meet in Vienna shortly to determine the level of international support that Iran receives for its continuing war on drugs. This comes amid concern about the increasing number of executions for drug-related offences in Iran. Six more people were recently hanged in the city of Kermanshah - executions that a senior figure in the judiciary described as "one of the triumphs of Iran".
Iran secretly executing hundreds of prisoners
Iran's authoritarian regime has been secretly executing hundreds of prisoners, according to a new UN report detailing growing rights abuses in the Islamic republic. The mysterious executions at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad in eastern Iran were highlighted in a report compiled by Ahmed Shaheed, the new UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran.
Executions point to ‘killing spree’
Rights groups press UN to denounce Iran executions
Human rights groups are pressing the U.N. and the international community to denounce a rash of executions in Iran. The groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, say at least 86 people have been executed in 2011 in Iran. They say at least eight of those killed last month were political prisoners.
Stoning case steals focus from other imprisoned dissidents, Iran activists say
Iranian regime exposes children to public executions
Following the October 12th public executions of four young men in Khomeini Shahr, the state-run Fars News Agency published more than 20 pictures showing the hangings and the spectators. In one of the pictures a small child is seen watching the executions. The number of the public executions in Iran has been increasing dramatically during the past months. Iranian authorities announce the executions and broadcast them through the state-run media.