Execution of Individuals with Psychosocial and Intellectual Disabilities in Iran in 2024

Article 149 of Chapter Two of the Islamic Penal Code (2013) which relates to criminal responsibility states: “If the perpetrator has a mental disorder such that at the time of committing the crime they lack willpower or judgement, they are considered insane and are not criminally responsible.”

While obtaining document evidence of medical diagnosis is difficult due to a lack of transparency, IHRNGO has reported many cases of people suffering from mental disorders being executed throughout the years.

In a Resolution adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (the predecessor of the Human Rights Council), States were urged “not to impose the death penalty on a person suffering from any form of mental disorder or to execute any such person.”[1]

In carrying out such executions, the Islamic Republic of Iran is breaching both its own laws and its international obligations.[2]In 2024, at least five people including protester Mohammad Ghobadlu were executed in contravention of national and international law.

Execution of Individuals with Psychosocial and Intellectual Disabilities in Iran in 2024

Rashed Baluchi

Rashed Baluchi was a 35-year-old Baluch man arrested for murder around six years prior to his execution. According to informed IHRNGO sources, “Rashed got into an argument with a retired IRGC member who worked as a taxi driver on Kish Island. Rashed committed the murder after he insulted him, and they got into a fight. This is while he had a red card (certificated issued to those deemed mentally unfit to serve mandatory military service) for his mental status and had no prior motive for the murder. However, the court ignored his medical history and sentenced him to death.” Rashed was executed in Bandar Abbas Central Prison in Hormozgan province on 28 April 2024.[3]

Alireza Razavi Khaleghabadi

Alireza Razavi Khaleghabadi was a 26-year-old man from Yazd whose orchard had been confiscated by the government and four security men had been assigned to guard it. Despite all efforts to recover his property, he was unsuccessful. In an act of rage, he attacked and killed the four state guards. According to his lawyer, Alireza “suffered from mental illness and had a history of being sectioned in a psychiatric hospital”. He was arrested on 27 May 2022 and sentenced to death for both murder and moharebeh charges but was ultimately hanged for the murder charges in Ghezelhesar Prison on 23 October 2024.[4]

Ezat Seyedi

Ezat Seyedi was a 40-year-old man arrested for murder in 2019, five years prior to his execution. According to informed IHRNGO sources, Ezat suffered from intellectual disabilities and had accidentally killed his friend while they were joking around with a rifle. He was executed in Zanjan Central Prison on 2 November 2024.[5]

[1] UN Commission on Human Rights, The Question of the Death Penalty, 25 April 2003, E/CN.4/RES/2003/67, 4(g).

[2] See page xx.

[3] IHRNGO, 2 Men Including Baluch with Acute Mental Condition Executed, 29 April 2024, https://iranhr.net/en/articles/6667/

[4] IHRNGO, At Least 6 Men Executed in Ghezelhesar Prison, 1 November 2024, https://iranhr.net/en/articles/7069/

[5] IHRNGO, Possible Child Offender Soleiman Abbaspour and Ezat Seyedi Executed in Zanjan, 7 November 2024, https://iranhr.net/en/articles/7094/