Thursday , 7 November 2024

Iraj Moradian Executed in Gorgan

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Iraj Moradian, a man on death row for murder, was executed in Gorgan Central Prison.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was executed in Gorgan Central Prison on 9th October. His identity has been established as Iraj Moradian, a man sentenced  to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Iraj Moradian was accused of killing his friend during an argument over finances. Under interrogations and in court, he said he had thrown an iron bar at his friend out of anger but had no intention of killing him.”

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

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. Crucially, while an indicative amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money.

In 2023, at least 282 people including two juvenile offenders and 15 women, were executed for murder charges, the second highest number of qisas executions since 2010. Only 20% of the recorded qisas executions were announced by official sources. In 2023, Iran Human Rights also recorded 857 cases of families choosing diya or forgiveness instead of qisas executions.

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