Shaban Yousefi Executed in Karaj/3 Others Transferred for Gallows

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on 20 May. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Shaban Yousefi. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

State media had previously reported the execution of Shahrouz Sokhanvari at the prison that day.

Additionally, at least three other prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions over the last few days. They were all sentenced to qisas for murder and scheduled to be executed within hours.

According to the 2022 Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 582 people were executed in Iran. Of those, 288 were executed for murder charges.

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.