International Death Penalty News 2023, Issue 41: Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Singapore, United States of America

Iran

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, 35-year-old Mohammad Taghi was executed in Mashhad Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Iranian law does not have differing degrees of murder. All killings are considered intentional murder. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses if the convicted is sentenced to qisas, given forgiveness, or pays diya (blood money).

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, a 40-year-old was executed in Mashhad Central Prison. He was convicted of murdering a man six years ago and disposing of his body in the sewer. The man was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, five men were executed in Kerman Central Prison. Two of the men, ethnic Baluch minorities were identified as Avaz Moradi and Ramezan Khorshid. The identities of the remaining three men were not made public. All five were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Saturday, October 9, 2023, three men were executed in Kerman Central Prison. One of the men was a Baluch minority, while another was an Afghan national. One of the men was identified as Narouyi. Narouyi was sentenced to death on drug-related charges, while the crimes of the other two have not yet been reported. None of the executions have yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, October 10, 2023, 38-year-old Mehrab Sintab was executed in Karaj Penitentiary. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Monday, October 9, 2023, an unnamed man was executed in Isfahan Central Prison. The 25-year-old man confessed to stabbing his friend to death. He turned himself in due to his guilt. He was sentenced to qisas, that is retribution in kind.

On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 30-year-old Hossein Alizadeh was executed in Bam Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind, about 10 years ago. Iranian law does not have differing degrees of murder. All killings are considered intentional murder. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses if the convicted is sentenced to qisas, given forgiveness, or pays diya (blood money).
His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, a man was executed in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. The man, identified only as Shahab, was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas. Shahab confessed to killing his friend after they got into an argument while they were out drinking. Iranian law does not have differing degrees of murder. All killings are considered intentional murder. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses if the convicted is sentenced to qisas, given forgiveness, or pays diya (blood money).

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Hossein Bahrehmand was executed in Hamedan Central Prison. He was sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

Nigeria

A police officer has been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for killing a pregnant female lawyer. The murder of Bolanle Raheem, who was pregnant with twins, by police officer Drambi Vandi, occurred on December 25, 2022. Vandi claimed he did not shoot the woman and that the bullet in evidence did not come from his gun. There are approximately 3,000 people on death row in Nigeria, however, executions are rare in the African nation.

North Korea

Last month, on September 25, 2023, an unnamed man was executed in public. The execution took place in Hyesan, a northern city in Ryanggang province on the Chinese border. He was convicted of stealing penicillin. It is believed that North Korea is allegedly experiencing a shortage of penicillin.

Singapore

On Thursday, October 9, 2023, the Central Narcotics Bureau arrested three individuals on suspected drug offenses. The bureau also seized more than 2,000g of heroin. Experts estimate it was enough hereon to supply 1,170 abusers for a week. If a person is found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of heroin, they face a mandatory death penalty.

United States of America

On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Texas executed Jedidiah Murphy. His execution was delayed several hours due to appeals. He was 48 years of age. Jedidiah was convicted of murdering 79-year-old Bertie Cunningham on October 4, 2000, in Garland, Texas. 

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