International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 17: India, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United States of America, Zimbabwe

India

A woman, Neelam, has been convicted and sentenced to death for kidnapping and burying her toddler alive. In November 2021, Neelam kidnapped her neighbor’s two-and-a-half-year-old daughter while the child was playing outside. Neelam then buried the child alive, resulting in her death. The murder was planned, as Neelam had dug the hole before kidnapping the child. Allegedly, Neelam, a divorcee with two children, was jealous of her neighbor and his children. The young child knew Neelam and trusted her. Judges found the crime to be among the “worst of the worst” and sentenced Neelam to death.

Iran

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Hadi Mirgozar was executed at an unspecified prison in Gilan province. Hadi was convicted of murdering a woman, Elham Sarlatibut. Her family then demanded he be sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder. After conviction the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas. Mitigating evidence, such as evidence of self-defense, is rarely considered.  

On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 33-year-old Valiollah Bakhtavar was executed in Tabriz Central Prison. The Afghan national was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Valiollah, who worked at a fruit stand before his arrest, was convicted of murdering his boss after his boss refused to pay him. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder. After conviction the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas. Mitigating evidence, such as evidence of self-defense, is rarely considered. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution. Valiollah is the 8th Afghan national executed so far this year.

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, 36-year-old Fariborz Dadgar was executed in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Sixteen years ago, his father was executed at the same prison on the same charges. Executions on drug-related charges have been on the rise since 2021. Dozens of Iran and international organizations have called for the halt of such executions. State officials on the media has not yet reported his execution.  

On Saturday, April 20, 2024, five men were executed in Kerman Central Prison. Four of the men have been identified as 34-year-old Ahmadreza Miri, 53-year-old Shamseddin Kashani, 48-year-old Jamal Mardani, and Shokat Shehbakhsh. The identity of the fifth man has not yet been reported. All were convicted on drug-related charges.  Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, April 20, 2024, 30-year-old Saeed Jadgal and 33-year-old Mohammad Anjamrooz were executed in Chabahar Prison. They were convicted and executed on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, three men were executed in Taybad Prison. Two of the men were identified as 38-year-old Mohammad Amin Mohammadpour and 35-year-old Esmail Esmailzadeh, while the fifth man has not been identified by name. All three men were convicted and executed on drug-related charges.  Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, three men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. The three men were identified as Ali Khoshavaz, 35-year-old Shahram Sharghi, and 35-year-old Alireza Aghayi. Ali was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Shahram and Alireza were convicted on separate murder charges and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. State officials and the media have not yet reported on any of the executions.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, Abdolbari Pashtu and 38-year-old Alireza Pourshahbaz were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. Pashtu was originally from Afghanistan. He is the tenth Afghan national executed so far this year. Both men were convicted and executed on drug-related charges.  Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.  

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 37-year-old Hossein Ali Sobhani was executed in Gorgon Central Prison. Hossein was arrested in October 2021. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, Farzad Khademi was executed in Saqqez Central Prison. Farzad was arrested on July 2, 2020. He was then convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  The murder was committed after the two got into a dispute. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder. After conviction the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas. Mitigating evidence, such as evidence of self-defense, is rarely considered. State officials and the media have not yet reported the execution.

Iraq

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 13 men were executed in Dhi Wars Nasiriyah Central Prison. All were convicted on charges of terrorism. Eleven of the men were convicted of being affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist group, while the remaining two have been in prison since 2008. Allegedly, the two men were tortured and forced to sign documents they were not permitted to read, which later turned out to be their confessions. International human rights groups claim all 13 were denied a fair trial and their rights to due process.

Saudi Arabia

Officials have announced the execution of Saudi national Basil Bin Suhail. Basil was convicted of murder by hitting a young woman, Nuwair Bind Naji, with his car. The two allegedly knew each other and had a disagreement.

An Indian national, 44-year-old Machilakath Abdul Rahim, was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering 15-year-old Anas al-Shahri, a Saudi national in 2006. Rahim has insisted that the death was an accident, as Anas had a health condition that paralyzed him from the neck down. Rahim was responsible for driving Anas around and caring for him. While driving, Rahim accidentally knocked off Anas’ breathing devices, resulting in Anas’ death.  However, Rahim then tried to make it look like a robbery before calling the police.  With the help of friends and celebrities, Rahim will be spared execution. They have managed to raise the necessary diya (blood money), which totals about $4 million.

United States of America

A controversial bill permitting the death penalty for child rape is headed to the desk of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Many Democrats in the state House and Senate opposed the bill because it was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court of the United States has previously ruled that the death penalty could only be used in cases where the victim died and there were other aggravating factors. If signed by the governor, Tennesee would become one of the few states to have recently passed a law that would permit the death penalty for those convicted of rape and especially aggravated rape of a child.

A judge in Kansas has refused to grant a motion by Jonathan and Reginald Carr requesting a new hearing to determine if the evidence supports the death penalty. The Carr brothers had their convictions and sentences upheld in 2022 by the Kansas Supreme Court. Jonathan and Reginald Carr are convicted of robbing, sexually assaulting, and murdering 29-year-old Aaron Sander, 27-year-old Brad Heyka, 26-year-old Jason Befort, 25-year-old Heather Muller, and 55-year-old Wichita Symphony cellist Linda “Ann” Walenta. At least two others were also victims of crimes by the Carr brothers, although they survived. The brothers were sentenced to death in 2002. Their death sentences were overturned in 2014 by the Kansas Supreme Court because the brothers were tried together. This decision was reversed by the US Supreme Court two years later and their death sentences were reinstated. In 2022, the Kansas Supreme Court upheld the death sentences saying the evidence against the brothers was so overwhelming they would have been sentenced to death despite trial errors. The brothers have additional appeals pending that could last several years yet.

Prosecutors in Florida are seeking the death penalty against 38-year-old Joanne Zephir. Her trial is scheduled to begin on May 7. She is accused of forcing her two daughters, ages eight and three, to drink bleach before choking them on Mother’s Day 2022. Zephir called family members and told them what she had done before admitting she was going to kill herself. The eight-year-old survived her injuries, while the three-year-old died. At the time of her arrest, she was also wanted for the attempted murder of her husband, who had been stabbed. He also survived his injuries. Zephir has claimed she was under a “voo-doo” spell at the time of the murders and has been found competent to stand trial.

Zimbabwe

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted clemency to over 4,000 inmates, including several death row inmates.  The date was significant as it marked the 44th year of independence from colonial rule.  Most of those granted clemency were female inmates, older and juvenile inmates, and the terminally ill. For some of the inmates, this is not the first time their sentence was reduced. Some death row inmates had previously had their sentences reduced to life in prison. They may now be eligible for release if they have spent at least 20 years in prison. Other inmates granted clemency were also required to have served a certain amount of their sentences before they could be freed. Before the clemency order, there were over 60 inmates on death row in the nation. It is unclear at this time how many remain on death row.