Thursday , 28 March 2024

Did Interpol Hand Over Man Facing Death Penalty in Iran?

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – According to the Iran Judiciary spokesperson, Shahrooz Sokhanvari who was arrested by Interpol in Malaysia will be executed soon after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence for “establishing a network of corruption.”

Condemning the death penalty in Iran, Iran Human Rights is demanding answers about his alleged arrest and deportation from Interpol. Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “If, as the Islamic Republic authorities claim, Interpol did hand him over to Iran, they’re complicit in his execution and must be held accountable.”

According to the Judiciary spokesperson, the Supreme Court has upheld Shahrooz Sokhanvari’s death sentence for “establishing a network of corruption.”

In a news conference on August 16, Judiciary spokesperson Massoud Setayeshi said: “This individual was sentenced to death. The other defendants in the case were sentenced to eight years in prison for providing the grounds for corruption, and the sentence is being implemented. There’s another defendant in the case whose sentence hasn’t been implemented yet.”

While the exact charges were not named, Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code lists “establishing and running centres of corruption and prostitution” as one of the charges leading to the death penalty for efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth).

Official Iranian media have reported that Shahrooz Sokhanvari was arrested by Interpol in Malaysia in 2020 and handed over to Iran.

Iran Human Rights is asking Interpol to clarify whether they arrested Shahrooz Sokhanvari in Malaysia as is being claimed and hand him over to Islamic Republic authorities knowing he was at risk of execution?

Due to their vague definitions, the charges of moharebeh (enmity against god), efsad-fil-arz(corruption on earth) and baghy (armed rebellion) are used for a wide range of offences. Additionally, as they are within the Revolutionary Courts’ jurisdiction, there is considerable subjectivity in the judgements made in the cases.

In 2021, at least 13 people were executed on charges of moharebehefsad-fil-arz and baghy. In 2020, 15 people were executed on the charges and 9 in 2019.

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