International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 45: China, Germany, Iran, United States of America

China

On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, it was announced that a former high-level government employee was sentenced to death for leaking state secrets to a foreign power. The individual sentenced to death was only identified as Zhang. The announcement noted that he had access to “a large number of state secrets” in the course of his job, however, his job or even what department he worked for was not revealed. Government officials believe Zhang was lured into becoming a double agent.

Germany

Following the execution of German-Iranian citizen Jamshid Sharmakhd, Germany has closed Iran’s consulates general in Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg. The Iranian embassy in Berlin will continue to operate. The employees of the consulates who do not have German citizenship must leave the country. Sharmakhd was executed in Iran after being convicted of being involved in a 2008 Shiraz mosque bombing. Fourteen individuals were killed in the bombing. He was later also accused of working with US intelligence agencies and attempting to communicate with the Israeli Mossad. Germany, along with all other European Union members, oppose all executions.

Iran

On Monday, October 28, 2024, 40-year-old Amir Jahandar and 27-year-old Koroush Salehian were executed in Isfahan Central Prison. Amir was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Koroush was convicted of murdering his cousin about three years ago. He was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Ali Mostafavi and 38-year-old Hossein Ali Maleki were executed in Qom Central Prison. Both were Malarad natives. They were arrested in connection with an honor killing about three years ago. They were convicted and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 36-year-old Sardar Safarpour was executed in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison. He was arrested about two years ago and then convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 35-year-old Hassan Ekhlasi was executed in Zahedan Central Prison. Thirteen years ago, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, five men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. Four of the men have been identified as Mostafa Gholamzadeh, Abdollah Tajik, Mohammad Jalali, and Saman Anbari, while the fifth man has not been identified by name. Mostafa and Abdollah were both Afghan nationals. They were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Mohammad and Saman were convicted and sentenced to death for moharebeh, that is, enmity against god. The fifth man was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. None of the executions have yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, 35-year-old Hamed Doyesti was executed in Isfahan Central Prison. He was arrested about five years ago. Hamed was then convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, 43-year-old Vahed Beinami was executed in Naghdeh Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, Abolfazl Shahbazi was executed in Tabriz Central Prison. Abolfazl was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, Reza Bidabadi was executed in Isfahan Central Prison. He was convicted of murder about four years ago and sentenced to qisas, that is retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, November 2, 2024, 30-year-old Gholamali Shakerian was executed in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison. He was arrested last year and convicted of murdering his friend during an argument. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, 29-year-old Ashkan Asgari was executed in Arak Central Prison. Details of his crime were not released, but he was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, 35-year-old Ramin Kazem Alilu and 24-year-old Ali Momeni were executed in Urmia Central Prison. Ramin was arrested about five years ago and the details of his crime were not reported. Ali was arrested for murdering a goldsmith about two years ago. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, 32-year-old Dariush Saeedi was executed in Hamedan Central Prison. He was arrested about five years ago and convicted of a murder committed during a group fight. Dariush was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. He was also later given a second qisas sentence for a murder committed during a prison fight. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported the execution.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, 41-year-old Mohamamd Abbas Moghaddam was executed in the Karaj Penitentiary. After his arrest about four years ago, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Monday, November 4, 2024, 20-year-old Arvin Ghahremani, a Jewish man, was executed. It is believed, but not confirmed, that the execution occurred at Kermanshah Central Prison. Arvin was convicted of committing a murder during a group fight when he was 18 years of age. Arvin claimed it was self-defense and that the attempted to render aid while awaiting the delayed medical assistance. Allegedly, the victim’s family was willing to accept diya, however, after discovering that Arvin was Jewish, they demanded qisas. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out.

On Monday, November 4, 2024, two Baluch minorities, 32-year-old Yousef Ahmadi and Mansour Rastakhiz were executed in Kahnuj Prison. Mansour was arrested about four years ago and convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Yousef was arrested about five years ago. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. State officials and the media have not yet reported the executions.

On Monday, November 4, 2024, 24-year-old Mohammadreza Sotoudeh and 27-year-old Alireza Jamshidi were executed in Shiraz Central Prison. Both were convicted in separate cases of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind.  Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victims chooses if they will grant forgiveness, demand qisas, or demand diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded and if the convicted and their family is unable to pay, qisas can be carried out. Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

United States of America

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that the state can attempt to execute Thomas Creech a second time. Creech was sentenced to death in Idaho in 1995, after being convicted of murdering fellow inmate David Dale Jensen on May 13, 1981, in a maximum security wing at the Idaho State Correctional Institution. Creech has already been to the execution chamber once. However, technicians were unable to place the necessary IV lines for the executions, leading to the execution being halted. Since then, there have been ongoing lawsuits regarding the constitutionality of attempting to execute him a second time.

On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, a military judge ruled that the controversial plea agreement between those alleged to have planned the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and the US Federal government is valid. In July prosecutors reached an agreement with alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Walid Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi that would result in the men avoiding execution and being sentenced to life in prison. Days after the deal was announced Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rejected the plea deal. Families of 9/11 victims want to see the men face trial, which has not yet occurred over 20 years after the attacks. A large part of the trial delay revolves around legal questions regarding the torture endured by the defendants after their capture.

Randy Halprin, a death row inmate and member of the famed “Texas 7”, has been granted a new trial due to antisemitic bias by the judge in his original trial. Halprin was a part of the group of seven inmates that escaped from a Texas prison. During their brief freedom, they robbed a sporting goods store, which resulted in the death of 29-year-old Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins. Six were arrested and charged under the law of parties and found responsible for the officer’s death. The seventh inmate committed suicide before police could arrest him. All six were sentenced to death, and four executions have been carried out. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has now ruled that Halprin’s conviction is to be overturned and he is to be granted a new trial. Evidence was presented that showed the judge in Halprin’s original trial was known to use derogatory language about Jewish people outside the courtroom both before and during his judgeship. During Halprin’s trial, several derogatory remarks against Jews were made by the judge inside the courtroom.