International Death Penalty News 2023, Issue 23: Gaza, Iran, South Korea, United States of America, Vietnam

Gaza

The Higher Crime Committee in Gaza unanimously issued a death sentence for a man identified by his initials only. He was convicted of murdering another person due to a family dispute. The Gaza Strip is controlled by the Palestinian Authority, which took control in 1994. In response, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights announced its opposition to the death sentence and the death penalty in general.

Iran

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 41-year-old Meisam Sadri and Parviz Javadi were executed in Zanjan Central Prison. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Friday, May 27, 2023, 33-year-old Mohammad Amin Valinia was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison. Executions are traditionally carried out by hanging. Mohammad was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. He was arrested about 11 years ago. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, 35-year-old Jalil Minayi was executed in Meshginshahr Prison. Jalil was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas. He was arrested about three years ago after a death during an altercation about financial issues. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, 60-year-old Abdolrahman Mozafari was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Abdolrahman spent at least 16 years on death row. Iranian law does not recognize different degrees of murder or the intent behind the killing. All killings are considered intentional murder. State officials and the media have not yet reported the execution.

On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the execution of three men occurred at Karaj Penitentiary. One man was identified as Ezatali Sabzi, while the remaining two were not identified by name. All three were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Their execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, 30-year-old Rasoul Sheikh Arpanahi, and 37-year-old Nematollah Arzani were executed in Isfahan prison. They were convicted on drug-related charges. Both men were members of the Bakhtiari tribe in Isfahan. They were arrested three years ago in connection with the same case. State officials and the media have not yet reported the executions.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, 24-year-old Ashkan Sohrabi and 23-year-old Aria Parvizi were executed in Kahnuj Prison. Both men were Baluch ethnic minorities and were convicted on drug-related charges. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, 30-year-old Aghil Arabi was executed in Kashan prison. He was convicted on drug-related charges. Aghil was a member of the Bakhtiari tribe in Isfahan. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Friday, June 2, 2023, officials executed Ali Mohammad Zeraat and Esmail Nasiri in Shiraz Central Prison. They were convicted on drug-related charges.

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 28-year-old Kambiz Barzekar and 40-year-old Malek Baluch Mahani were executed in Kerman Central Prison. They were convicted and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on drug-related charges. They were arrested about three years ago. Kambiz insisted that he was innocent. Both men are ethnic Baluch minorities. State officials and the media have not yet reported the executions.

On Thursday, June 8, 2023, Houshang Amirzadeh was executed in Qazvin Central Prions. He was convicted on drug-related charges and arrested about three years ago. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

South Korea

The government is seeking to end the clause that requires death row inmates to be executed within 30 years of the sentence or they are exempt from execution. An amendment will be introduced to Parliament to reverse this practice. This provision was initially not an issue, as executions were carried out shortly after being finalized. However, despite having over 50 people on death row, the nation has not carried out an execution since December 30, 1997, when it executed 23 people. The longest-serving death row inmate in the nation, Won Eon-sik, will have spent 30 years on death row by the end of the year. Some fear this means he could be released from prison. Won is convicted of setting fire to a religious facility that resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injured 25 others.

United States of America

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Michael Tisius was executed in Missouri. He was 42 years of age. Michael was executed for murdering jail officers Leon Egley and Jason Acton on June 22, 2000, in Huntsville, Missouri, while attempting to break his friend out of prison.

In April 2022, Casey White escaped from the Lauderdale County Detention Center in Florence, Alabama, with the help of Vicky White, a correctional officer at the jail. They are not related, but since his recapture, Casey has claimed they were in love. Vicky took her life rather than be captured after they spent 11 days on the run. Casey has now been sentenced to life in prison for his escape. At the time of his escape, he was serving a 75-year prison sentence for a violent crime spree. He is also facing capital charges for murdering 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway in Rogersville, Alabama. Connie was stabbed to death in her apartment in 2015. Casey has confessed to the murder, claiming he was hired to carry it out.

In 2018, Florida death row inmate Alex Pagan had his death sentence reversed and a new sentencing was ordered due to a case that changed the standards for sentencing an inmate to death. The decision of that case was applied retroactively. Now, Florida has agreed to drop capital charges in exchange for a sentence of life in prison. Pagan was convicted of murdering six-year-old Michael Lynn and Michael’s father, Freddy Jones. Pagan was also accused of attempting to murder Michael’s mother Latasha Jones, and Michael’s 18-month-old brother Lafayette Jones. The murders occurred on February 23, 1993. He had previously broken in and robbed the home a month earlier.

Vietnam

Two Australian citizens have been spared from execution in Vietnam. The names of the two Australians have not been released, however, authorities have confirmed that neither of the individuals is 73-year-old Australian national Chau Van Kham. Chau worked as a baker before his arrest in Ho Chi Minh City in 2019, and later conviction on terrorism charges. Several groups and people continue to call for his freedom. The crimes of the two unnamed Australians are not specified. They were released as Vietnam and Australia increased and improve their relationship with one another.

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