International Death Penalty News 2025 Issue 10: China, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United States of America

China

On Friday, February 28, 2025, Yu Huaying was executed in Guizhou Province in southwestern China.  Yu was convicted and sentenced to death for abducting and trafficking 17 children between 1993 and 2003.  She was convicted and sentenced to death on October 25, 2024, after which she appealed her sentence several times.  Her execution was carried out suddenly, with no warning to those involved in the case.

Indonesia

In January, 32-year-old British national Thomas Parker was arrested in Bali for dealing drugs.  His arrest was made publicly known during a press conference on Thursday, March 6, 2025.  If he is convicted of the charges against him, he could be sentenced to death.  The drug was discovered in a mail package Thomas was receiving, which he attempted to throw away after police confronted him.  Officials allege that Thomas is a member of an international drug ring based in Hungary.

On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Medan District Court sentenced 41-year-old Hendrik Kosumo to death.  Kosumo was convicted of owning and operating a homemade ecstasy factory.  Through his factory, he produced, imported, exported, and distributed ecstasy in plant form.  Other defendants in the case received varying lesser sentences.

Iran

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, 33-year-old Mohammad Raei was executed in Birjand Central Prison.  He was arrested about three years ago on murder charges and sentenced to qisas.  Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder and mitigating evidence is rarely considered.  After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 62-year-old Mir Mohammad Paridar was exulted in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison.  He was arrested about four years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.  State officials and the media have not yet protected his execution.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 38-year-old Morteza Jafari (Amouchi) was executed by hanging in Isfahan Central Prison.  He was arrested about four years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.  His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, eight men were executed in Ghezelhesar Prison by hanging.  Six of the men, identified as Amir Jafarpanah, Yasser Abbasi, Sajad Eghbali (Geravand), 21-year-old Alireza Basatinia, Mosayeb Azizi and Bahman Houshmand, were all convicted on several different murder charges and sentenced to qasis, that is, retribution in kind.  The seventh man, 40-year-old Mostafa Hojeir Pirouz was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.  The unnamed eighth man was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to death.  Their executions have not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Behrouz Safari Ghaleh Zanjiri was expected in Kermanshah Central Prison.  He was arrested about four years ago on murder charges, 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 deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Ali Khalili was executed in Sari Central Prison.  He was arrested about four years ago and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution. 

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Ali Vatankhah was executed in Ardabil Central Prison.  He was arrested for killing someone during a group fight three 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 deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed.  His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, 28-year-old Shoeib Rezapour was executed by public hanging on Behesht Esfarayen bridge.  It is the first public execution of the year.  He was convicted of killing someone using a knife about three 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 deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed.  

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, 36-year-old Hassan Fathi and 33-year-old Ramin Alayi were executed in Tabriz Central Prison.  Both men were arrested about three years ago on separate drug-related charges.  They were convicted and sentenced to death.  State officials and the mai have not yet reported their executions.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, 26-year-old Mohammad Araghi was also executed in Tabriz Central Prison.  He was arrested about four years ago.  Mohammad was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, which 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 deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed.  His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, March 1, 2205, Mehrdad Asgariabadi was executed by hanging in Arak Central Prison.  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 deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed.  His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, seven men were executed in Zahedan Central Prison.  They have been identified as 46-year-old Farhad Dahmardeh, 43-year-old Mousa Pahang, 39-year-old Ghasem Ghanbardezaki, 28-year-old Sadollah Zarei, 30-year-old Asem Charikar, 40-year-old Morad Saberu (Badpa) and 31-year-old Basir Roudini.  Farhad, Mousa, Ghasem, Sadollah, and Asem were all convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.  Morad and Basir were convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas.  Sadollah and Asem were Afghan nationals, while the other five men were all Baluch ethnic minorities.  None of the executions have yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 35-year-old Ezat Zeinali was executed in Ahar Prison. Executions are usually carried out by hanging.  Ezat was arrested about three years ago.  He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.  State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 30-year-old Ghasem Sarayi was executed in Qom Central Prison.  Ghasem, a former factory worker, was convicted of carrying drugs and an illegal weapon about three years ago.  His execution has not yet been reported by state officials and the media.

On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Iman Shokrollahzadeh was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.  Iman had two children and worked on a chicken farm.  He got into a fight with someone at work resulting in their death.  Iman 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 deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding diya (blood money), or demanding qisas.  There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if the condemned is unable to raise the money, they are often executed. State officials and the media have not yet been reported.

Pakistan

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, an unnamed man was sentenced to death after being convicted on blasphemy charges.  A prayer leader and local emir of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) accused the man of making disrespectful remarks about the prophet Mohammad.  The man denied the charges against him, saying he was a Muslim and was willing to take an oath testifying to that fact.

United Arab Emirates

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, 33-year-old Shahzadi Khan, an Indian national was executed.  She was arrested on February 10, 2023, on charges of murdering a four-month-old baby.  She was convicted and sentenced to death.  Her family and the Indian embassy, which was assisting in her defense, were not notified about the execution until a week after it occurred.  Khan denied murdering the infant and claimed she had been tricked and trafficked to the United Arab Emirates.  Additionally, she claimed that the baby died just hours after receiving several routine vaccinations and that she was pressured into confessing, having inadequate legal representation.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil were executed.  Both were Indian nationals and convicted in separate murder cases. Arangilottu, who worked for a travel agency, was convicted of murdering an Emirati national.  Valappil was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering another Indian national.

United States of America

On Friday, March 7, 2024, Brad Sigmon was executed by a firing squad in South Carolina.  He is the first US prisoner to be executed by firing squad in the United States in 15 years and the first firing squad execution in South Carolina. Sixty-seven-year-old Brad is convicted of murdering  David and Gladys Larke, in their Greenville County, South Carolina home in 2002. 

On Friday, March 7, 2025, Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama commuted the death sentence of 63-year-old Robin “Rocky” Myers to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.  Myers was sentenced to death by a jury in 1994 after they convicted him of murdering his neighbor 69-year-old Ludie Mae Tucker in 1991.  Myers has insisted he is innocent of the crime for which he is convicted.  Governor Ivey has presided over dozens of executions during her time as governor.  This is the first time she has granted clemency to a death row inmate. In announcing her decision, Governor Ivey stated that while she is not “not convinced that Mr. Myers is innocent, but I am not so convinced of his guilt as to approve of his execution.”

On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Idaho senate passed a bill making firing squads the primary method of execution in the state.  The bill had already passed the Idaho House of Representatives and is now headed to the desk of Governor Brad Little.  If he signs it, the bill will go into effect next year.  The firing squad is currently the backup method of execution, with lethal injection being the primary method, however, Idaho, like many other states, has had difficulties obtaining execution drugs.  The bill came about after Idaho was unable to execute Thomas Creech because suitable veins for an IV line could not be located.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, George John Hanson, also known as John Fitzgerald Hanson was taken from a federal prison in Louisiana to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, where he will await his execution.  The transfer was requested by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and approved by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.  Hanson is convicted of murdering 77-year-old Mary Bowles, who he carjacked from a shopping mall in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He was also sentenced to life in federal prison for a separate bank robbery charge.  Hanson does not yet have an execution date, however, it is expected that he will receive one in the coming months.