International Death Penalty News 2024, Issue 46: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, China, India, Iran, Japan, Nigeria, United States of America

Afghanistan

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, an unnamed man was publicly executed by firing squad. The execution was carried out inside a sports stadium and is the sixth public execution since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The man was convicted of murder and received a retaliatory punishment, which was carried out by family members of the victim, who also refused to halt the execution.

Burkina Faso

In 2018, 30 years after its last execution, the government in Burkina Faso abolished capital punishment. Now, the military regime is looking to reinstate the death penalty. While nothing has officially been proposed into law, a recent bill noted that reinstating the death penalty is being discussed and will likely be part of a new criminal code proposition in the future. Earlier this year, the military regime, or junta, announced it would extend its rule for another five years, despite previous promises to return the nation to civilian rule by July 1.

China

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, three individuals accused of raping children were executed. Guo was a former primary school teacher convicted of raping six girls under the age of 14 over 100 times. He is also convicted of molesting three other girls. All crimes occurred between 2013 and February 2019. Shang lured eight young girls from various locations and sexually abused them. He also took videos and photos of the assaults, which occurred between 2011 and 2020. This evidence was then used to force the girls to maintain a relationship with him. Gong, was convicted of seducing and mentally controlling a young girl who came into the shop he ran. Between 2015 and January 2020, Gong raped the girl eight times, molested her dozens of times, and allowed others to gang rape her. At the age of 16, the girl committed suicide.

India

The Bombay High Court has confirmed the death sentences of a father and son, 66-year-old Haribhau Telgote, and 35-year-old Shyam. A third defendant has been acquitted. The father and son are convicted of murdering four family members during a June 28, 2025, attack. The victims have been identified as 60-year-old Baburao Sukhdev Chaharte, 50-year-old Dhanraj Sukhdev Chaharte, 19-year-old Gaurav Dhanraj Chaharte, and 17-year-old Shubham Dhanraj Chaharte. A disagreement among family members regarding 29 acres of ancestral land in Malpura village led to the attack.

Iran

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, 38-year-old Hamed Mehraban was executed in Hamedan Central Prison. Hamed was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the defendant is unable to pay the amount, they are executed. State officials and the media have not yet reported Hamed’s execution.

On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 40-year-old Iraj Shabdiz and 47-year-old Ali Ahmadzadeh were executed in Gorgan Central Prison. Both were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Iraj worked as a plumber before he was arrested two years ago. Ali worked as a vehicle painter before his arrest. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Thursday, November 7, 2024, 32-year-old Sadegh Khorshidi and Mohammad Majid Jamali were executed in Rasht Central Prison. They were convicted and sentenced to death in separate drug-related cases. An unidentified woman was also executed alongside Sadegh and Mohammad. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the defendant is unable to pay the amount, they are executed. None of the three executions have yet been reported by state officials and the media.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, three Baluch minorities were executed in Yazd Central Prison. One of the men was identified as Mohsen Nejadi Moghaddam, who was around 30 years of age. Mohsen and an unnamed man were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. The third man, who was also unnamed, was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Saturday, November 9, 2024, 36-year-old Jafar Farahani was executed in Neishabur Prison. Jafar was a father and worked as a heavy vehicle driver before his arrest three years ago. He was convicted of murdering his cousin and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the defendant is unable to pay the amount, they are executed. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, 28-year-old Mohammadnabi Papolzehi, an Afghan national, was executed in Zahedan Central 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 Sunday, November 10, 2024, 35-year-old Mahrokh Khani and 45-year-old Kazem Babayi were executed in Tabriz Central Prison. They were convicted and sentenced to death on separate drug-related charges. Mahrokh worked in a tailor shop before his arrest four years ago. She is the 23rd female executed so far this year, and the 12th executed on drug-released charges. Kazem was arrested about two years ago. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, 25-year-old Saman Karimi was executed in Yasuj Central Prison. He was arrested about two years ago. Saman was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the defendant is unable to pay the amount, they are executed. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, November 10, 2024,  36-year-old Hamid Soltan Abadi was executed in Qazvin Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, lawyers for Verisheh Moradi, a Kurdish political prisoner and a member of the East Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR), were notified that she was formally sentenced to death. Allegedly, Verisheh was not permitted to defend herself against the charges of “armed insurrection.” Her lawyers were also not able to present a defense in her case and were prevented from reviewing documents in the case until only a few hours before her second hearing.

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 43-year-old Mohammad Ali Salamat was publicly executed in Baghe Behesht Park in Hamedan. He was convicted and sentenced to death on charges of rape. Mohammad was convicted of raping and torturing 150 women. He confessed to the crimes after allegedly being tortured. Several accusers presented evidence of his crimes. It is the fourth public execution in Iran in 2024.

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 27-year-old Zakaria Alizehi was executed in Zahedan Central Prison. He was arrested three years ago and convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 26-year-old Ahmad Alizadeh was again executed in Ghezelhesar Prison. He was first executed by hanging in April. After hanging for 28 seconds, he was resuscitated and taken back to his cell at the request of the plaintiff, who shouted, “forgiveness, forgiveness”. Ahmad was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). Forgiveness can be granted at any time. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Fathollah Rashidi was executed in Shiraz Central Prison. He was arrested about two years ago. Fathollah was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Mehdi Sharif and 40-year-old Hossein Faramari were executed in Kashan Prison. Both men were convicted on separate drug-related charges. Their executions have not yet been announced by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Ghiam Safizadeh was executed in Jiroft Prison. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, with mitigating evidence rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the victim chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the defendant is unable to pay the amount, they are executed. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

Japan

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, the Japanese government announced that it would not be abolishing capital punishment, saying it would be “inappropriate” to do so. Interest in abolishing capital punishment spiked after 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada was acquitted after spending nearly 50 years on death row for a quadruple murder. In a recent retrial, he was acquitted of the murders and received an apology from the government and the police department.

Nigeria

On Monday, November 11, 2024, President Bola Tinubu ordered that 29 children be immediately released from prison. All 29 youngsters were sentenced to death. They were convicted of participating in protests due to the cost-of-living crisis in the nations. President Tinubu has also ordered that an investigation be conducted into the law enforcement personnel involved in the arrests and prosecution of the minors. Hundreds of others were arrested along with the minors and the names of those arrested were not reported.

United States of America

The Defense Department has announced it plans to appeal a ruling by a military judge that stated the plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and two of his co-defendants are valid. After the plea deals were initially announced, there was significant outrage by the families of the September 11 victims. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stepped in and ordered the plea agreements to be thrown out. The plea deals would have the defendants pleading guilty but sparing them from being executed. Most recently, a military ruled that Defense Secretary Austin did not have the authority to throw out the plea deals and reinstated them. This ruling is being appealed.

During his reelection campaign, Donald Trump, now President-elect, promised to remove the federal moratorium on executions and resume carrying out federal executions. During the final months of President Trump’s first term, he executed 13 federal prisoners. His successor, President Joe Biden, then placed a moratorium on federal executions. There are several high-profile inmates on federal death row, including some that have been sentenced to death in recent years, however, it can take years to complete all the appeals before an execution can be carried out. In addition to resuming executions, President-elect Trump has signaled he is open to making more crimes eligible for execution, especially child rapists, drug trafficking and human trafficking.

Four years ago, now outgoing President Joe Biden campaigned on ending the federal death penalty. However, since taking office, his actions to fulfill that campaign promise have been limited. While he was campaigning, his predecessor President Donald Trump was seeking to carry out over a dozen executions. Once he became president, Biden issued a moratorium on federal executions. Under Biden’s direction, the Justice Department has sought very few death sentences, even in cases that warranted it. Additionally, the Justice Department withdrew death penalty sentences in about two dozen cases. Biden still has a few months in office, during which he could commute the death sentences of all 40 inmates on federal death row.

Attorneys for Bryan Kohberger are seeking to again have the death penalty removed as a possible sentence. Kohberger is accused of murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves on November 13, 2022, at a house near the campus of the University of Idaho. Kohberger’s attorney has made several arguments as to why the death penalty should be removed. Many of the arguments have already been debated in various courts, and the death penalty has been allowed to stand.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, it was announced that a Texas jury found Gregory Newson guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. Newson was convicted of murdering Panola County Deputy Chris Dickerson in 2019. A date for his execution has not yet been scheduled and he has several appeal options available to him, which could take years before they are completed.

Prosecutors in Oklahoma have charged Alysia Adams with murdering four-year-old Athena Brownfield on December 25, 2022, in Cyril, Oklahoma. Adams was scheduled to plead guilty to the crime and received a sentence to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. However, shortly before she was scheduled to go to court and make her plea, Adams decided against it. She claims that her husband, Ivon Adams committed the murder. He has also been charged with the murder. Since rejecting the plea deal, if she is convicted Alysia could be sentenced to death. Alysia and Ivon were assigned as caretakers to Athena.

Prosecutors in Florida have announced they will no longer be seeking the death penalty against Corey Smith, a convicted murderer and former gangland leader. In 1999, Smith was convicted in federal court on drug and firearm charges. In 2000, he was indicted in Miami-Dade County for crimes committed in connection with Liberty City’s John Doe drug gang. Smith was convicted of six murders and sentenced to death for two of them. Since his convicted, Florida laws regarding death sentences have changed numerous times, and Smith was ordered a retrial in 2016. Shortly after the retrial began earlier this year, it was revealed that the lead prosecutor was attempting to use a jailhouse snitch to coordinate stories between witnesses. This discovery led to the lead prosecutor being dismissed, along with the co-counsel who vigorously defended the lead prosecutor. Now, due to the length of time that has passed since the initial trial and the lack of witnesses, prosecutors have decided they cannot successfully pursue a death sentence. A plea deal is currently being worked out.

On October 16, 2024, Judge Arturo Nelson of Cameron County ruled that Texas death row inmate Melissa Lucio is innocent and recommended that her sentence and conviction be overturned. Lucio was convicted in 2008 of murdering her two-year-old daughter Mariah. The judge has ruled that flawed science was used to help secure her conviction. Now a reexamination of the evidence has shown that Mariah died after accidentally falling down the stairs. Following this ruling, the case goes to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which will ultimately decide if Lucio’s sentence and conviction will be overturned.