International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 18: DR Congo, Iran, Malaysia, United States of America

Democratic Republic of Congo

On Friday, May 3, 2024, a military court sentenced eight soldiers, including five officers, to death. They were convicted of desertion and cowardice while fighting M23 rebels. Three other soldiers were part of the case, however, they were acquitted as the charges against them could not be established.

Iran

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, Ali Movahedi was executed at Karaj Penitentiary. Ali was arrested about eight years ago. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, 49-year-old Hossein Tavana Kodiani, 43-year-old Taleb Akbari, and 43-year-old Reza Masrour were executed in Shiraz Central Prison. All three were convicted in separate murder cases and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. All three were involved in fights that resulted in the death of another. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, Ali Khoshavaz was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 35-year-old Shahram Sharghi and 35-year-old Alireza Aghayi were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. Both men were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Shahram was arrested 14 years ago, while Alireza was arrested five years ago. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Pejman Azizi was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Pejman’s age was not reported, although it is being reported that he was very young and possibly arrested as a juvenile. It is against international law to execute a person for a crime they committed as a juvenile, however, Iran has been known to carry out the executions of juvenile offenders.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 37-year-old Yavar Aminkhah was executed in Saveh Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Yavar was arrested about three years ago. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Javad Asgari was executed in Arak Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, Farzad Khademi was executed in Saqqez Central Prison. He was convicted of murdering Tirdad Atashafrouz on July 2, 2020, and sentenced to qisas. Farzad and Tirdad had previously been involved in a personal dispute. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. Farzad’s execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Sohrab Hokmabad, 36-year-old Amir Moharami, and 33-year-old Davoud Namiari were executed in Tabriz Central Prison. Executions are traditionally carried out by hanging. All three were convicted on separate drug charges and sentenced to death. Their executions have not yet been announced by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, 37-year-old Iraj Sanambari was executed at Arak Central Prison. He was arrested around three years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, three Baluch ethnic minorities were executed in Ghaen Prison in South Khorasan province. One of the men was identified as 27-year-old Mohsen Karami. A second man was identified by his last name, Barahouyi, while the third man was not identified. Allegedly the families of the men were not informed before their executions, thereby preventing them from having a final visit. All three were convicted on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet publicly reported their executions.

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, two men were executed in Bandarabbas Central Prison. The two men have been identified as 35-year-old Rashed Baluchi and 35-year-old Hojat Shamskhani. Rashed, a Baluch ethnic minority who has been in prison for the last six years, was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Rashed had previously been deemed mentally unfit to serve his mandatory military service, however, reports indicate that the courts did not consider his mental state when they sentenced him to death. Hojat, who has been in prison for the last three years, was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, two unnamed men were executed in Isfahan Central Prison. They were convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. State officials and the media have not yet reported either execution.

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, 36-year-old Mansour Narouyi was executed in Gonbad Kavous Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. He had a final visit with his family the day before his execution, which has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Monday, April 29, 2024, 24-year-old Mehdi Bameri was executed in Kahnuj Prison. Mehdi was a Baluch ethnic minority. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Monday, April 29, 2024, eight men were executed in Isfahan Central Prison. Four of the men, 32-year-old Behnam Khakpour, 40-year-old Payam Farazandeh, 40-year-old Majid Gorgipour, and an Afghan national named Delagha Habib, were convicted and executed on drug-related charges. A fifth man, Reza Shahssavandi, was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas. The other three men were all Baluch minorities. Only one was identified by name, Din Mohammad Mirkhani. State officials and the media have not yet reported the execution of any of the eight men.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 32-year-old Faramarz Moradi was executed in Ardabil Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges after being arrested four years ago. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 25-year-old Alireza Sargolzayi was executed in Mashhad Central Prison. He was arrested about three years ago in possession of the raw materials for the production of narcotics. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the death sentence of Babak Zanjani was commuted to a 20-year jail term. Babak was convicted in 2016 of stealing nearly $3 billion from the oil ministry to circumvent US sanctions in Iran. Babak also agreed to work with authorities and pay back his debt and damages to Iran.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 35-year-old Saeed Imani was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison. Saeed was convicted of killing his brother-in-law about five years ago. After being found guilty of murder, he was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind, at the request of the family of the victim. The family could have also chosen to forgive Saeed, or have him pay diya, that is, blood money. State officials and the media have not yet reported the execution.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Mousa Fazeli was executed in Qom Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are tried as “intentional murder” and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if the inmate is sentenced to qisas, required to pay diya (blood money), or granted forgiveness by the family. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, four Baluch ethnic minorities were executed in Birjand Central Prison. Three of the men have been identified as Mehdi Eshterak, Mohammad Shehbakhsh, and Mahmoud Gorgij, while the fourth person, a woman, has not been identified by name. All were convicted on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Farzad Geravand and Reza Barati were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. Both men were convicted in the same case of drug-related crimes, resulting in their death sentences. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 45-year-old Ali Ashraf Khani was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison. He was convicted of killing his brother-in-law during a family dispute about seven years ago. He was then sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Anwar Khezri was executed in Ghezelhesar Prison after spending 14 years on death row. Anwar was a Kurdish Sunni political prison. Allegedly, Anwar was tortured into confessing.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Ahmad Heyrati was executed in Shiraz Central Prison. He was convinced of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 38-year-old Nasir Hariri was executed in Qazvin Central Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Nasir was convicted of murdering a baker with a scale stone about three years ago. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, 35-year-old Yaghoub Amiri was executed in Ardabil Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. His execution has not yet been officially reported.

Malaysia

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a Court of Appeal overturned the death sentence of 46-year-old Sobri Abdul Wahab who was convicted of murdering his Indonesian girlfriend by stabbing her 28 times. Instead, Sobri will spend 30 years in prison and receive 12 strokes of the rotan.

United States of America

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, Raymond Johnson was scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma. His execution was stayed at the request of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Johnson is awaiting the scheduling of a new execution date. Fifty-year-old Raymond is convicted of murdering Brook Whitaker and their seven-month-old daughter Kya on June 23, 2007, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

A nurse in Pennsylvania will not be sentenced to death for murdering her patients. Instead of being sentenced to death, 41-year-old Heather Pressdee was instead sentenced to three consecutive life sentences and another consecutive prison term of 380-760 years in prison. Pressdee pled guilty to murdering three patients by injecting them with lethal amounts of insulin. She is suspected in the deaths of 14 other patients. She has also lost her nursing license. Coworkers noted that Pressdee seemed unhappy and showed disdain for her patients by making derogatory comments.

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, a jury in Texas sentenced Jerry Don Elders to death. Elders was convicted of kidnapping and murdering 61-year-old Robin Waddell on April 14, 2021, while he was on the run from the police. He also shot a police officer in Burleson, Texas. Later that day, Elders was spotted driving Robin’s vehicle. He was arrested after a short chase.

Attorneys for Chad Doerman in Ohio have requested that the death penalty be excluded “due to serious mental illness.” Doerman is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. He is accused of shooting to death his three sons, 3-year-old Chase, 4-year-old Hunter, and 7-year-old Clayton on June 15, 2023. A hearing has been scheduled to review his mental competency. His trial is scheduled to begin in July.

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, a jury in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania awarded $16 million to former death row inmate Jimmy Dennis. Jimmy spent 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He was sentenced to death in 1991 for a murder he claims he could not have committed. His conviction was overturned in 2013 by a federal judge who called it a “grave miscarriage of justice.” The two investing officers are currently awaiting trial on a separate case where they are accused of lying on the witness stand. In Jimmy’s case, they were found to have engaged in “malicious or wanton misconduct.”