Possible Juvenile Offender Mohammad Tazeh Kar Executed in Meshkin Shahr

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a young man was in executed in Meshkin Shahr Prison on the morning of December 12. His identity has been established as Mohammad Tazeh Kar who was sentenced to qisas for killing his friend during a fight.

An informed source told Iran Human Rights: “He was arrested and sentenced to death in 2017 for the murder of [name withheld by IHRNGO] during a fight. After his parents divorced and his father passed away, Mohammad was raised by his grandparents.”

It is possible that Mohammad was under the age of 18 at the time of offence, which is being investigated further by Iran Human Rights.

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, 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.