International Death Penalty News 2022, Issue 37: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Singapore, United States of America

Afghanistan

A video has recently been released that appears to show a group of resistance fighters in Afghanistan being executed by the Taliban. Recently, the Taliban also announced that they killed 40 resistance fighters in Panjshir Valley. The Taliban quickly seized control of Afghanistan after US troops left the country after 20 years of occupation. The government established during that time also fled the country as the Taliban took over. Since then, there have been concerns over human rights violations and this recent video and announcement heighten those concerns.

Bangladesh

A man, Chandan Kumar Roy, has been arrested for the murder of former Awami League MP Manjurul Islam Liton on December 31, 2016. Chandan is believed to be the main coordinator of the attack which took the life of MP Liton. Seven people were charged with the murder, however, Chandan managed to escape before being arrested. However, he was tried in absentia and sentenced to death.

Egypt

A court in Cairo, Egypt, confirmed the death sentences for the two men convicted of murdering TV presenter Shaimaa Gamal. Both men, Ayman Haggag, Shaimaa’s husband, and Hussein El-Gharably were convicted of premeditated murder. They have 60 days to appeal the court’s decision. Shaimaa was killed after allegedly threatening to blackmail her husband for money. After murdering her, Ayman filed a report that she was missing.

Iran

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, seven men were executed by hanging in Rajai Shahr Prison. Three of the seven have been identified as Abolfazl Shahi, Mohammad Arab, and Khosro Nourbakhsh. The names of the remaining four have not yet been determined. All seven were convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Six other individuals were also brought out to the gallows, however, they were then returned to their cells for unknown reasons. State officials and the media have not yet reported these executions.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 40-year-old Yar Mohammad Eshaghzehi, an Afghan national, was executed at Bandar Abbas Prison. Yay, a father of two, was arrested about two years ago and convicted on drug-related charges. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media. So far this year, at least 91 people have been executed on drug-related charges, more than twice the number of people executed in the same time period last year.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 22-year-old Ghafour Nejatpour from Maraveh Tapeh was executed in Gonbad Kavous Prison. Ghafour was convicted 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, September 7, 2022, 34-year-old Allah Nour Salarzehi was executed at Minab Prison. Allah, a Baluch man, was sentenced to death on drug-related charges. He was also the father of two children and was arrested about two years ago. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, Ramezan Jafarzadeh and Mohammad Mohammadi-Ghaed were executed in Shiraz Central Prison. Both men were arrested about two years ago. Ramezan was convicted and executed on drug-related charges. Mohammad was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas. At this time, neither execution has been reported by state officials or the media.

On September 10, 2022, 26-year-old Mansour Barahouyi was executed in Birjand Central Prison. Mansour, a father of two and a Baluch minority, was executed on drug-related charges. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Saturday, September 10, 2022, five people, all Baluch minorities, were executed in Zahedan Central Prison. Four of the people have been identified as 38-year-old Khaled Raisi, 27-year-old Amrollah Basij, 42-year-old Abdolnasir Shehbakhsh, and 37-year-old Houshang Kord. The fifth person was identified only as a woman. All five were convicted in separate murder cases and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. None of the executions have yet been reported by state officials or the media. So far this year, over 400 people have been executed in Iran, double the amount of people who were executed in the same time period as last year.

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, 27-year-old Mehran Nour Mohammadi and Hassan Agha Mohammadi were executed in Isfahan Central Prison. Mehran was convicted of moharebeh, that is, enmity against God, for an armed robbery. He was arrested about five years ago. Hassan was convicted and sentenced to death for committing murder. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, 30-year-old Mehdi Aghoush was executed in Zanjan Central Prison. Before his arrest, Mehdi worked as a hairdresser. He was arrested four years ago after a mass fight, during which some died. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. In Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, regardless of circumstance or intent.

On Monday, September 12, 2022, 40-year-old Ahmad Panahi-Khanghah was executed in Ardabil Central Prison. He was arrested for committing an honor killing about four years ago. He was then convicted of murder and sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Ahmad was scheduled to be executed last month, however, he obtained a one-month delay.  

On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 35-year-old Ali Hemat Estaki and an unidentified man were executed in Daran Prison in Isfahan province. Ali was convicted of murdering a friend about five years ago. They were arguing over a financial issue. Ali alleges the murder was unintentional, however, Iranian law does not differentiate between intentional and unintentional murder. All killings are considered intentional murder. State officials and the media have not yet reported the executions.

Singapore

A 42-year-old unnamed man was arrested with over 8kg of drugs seized on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. If convicted of drug-related crimes, he could be sentenced to death.

United States of America

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, Kareem Jackson was scheduled to be executed in the state of Ohio. Kareem’s execution has been rescheduled to December 10, 2025. Forty-eight-year-old Kareem is convicted of the murder of Antonio Hunter and Terrance Walker in Columbus, Ohio on March 25, 1997. 

A state attorney in Alabama told a federal judge that the state is not ready to execute by nitrogen hypoxia by September 22, 2022. Alan Miller is currently scheduled to be executed on that date by lethal injection. However, Alan claims that several years ago, he chose to be executed by nitrogen instead of lethal injection and that the prison lost his paperwork. He is appealing to have his execution halted. Execution by nitrogen is approved in Alabama and two other states, however, it has never been used. Alabama attorney James Houts told U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. that prison officials attempted to fit Alan for a mask in preparation for a gas execution, however, the inmate declined to allow it. Alan’s lawyers claim that while Alan prefers to be executed by nitrogen rather than lethal injection, he does not want to be the test case for an untried execution method and that they want more details on the process. As a new and untried method of execution, it is expected there will be several appeals regarding the use of nitrogen hypoxia, which would, using a mask, replace oxygen with nitrogen. Alan is convicted of a workplace triple murder in 1999. 

Twenty-one years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC, the five men accused of planning the attacks remain in Guantanamo Bay Prison, without having been tried. Now, it is being reported that the federal government is willing to eliminate the death penalty to reach a plea deal. Allegedly, the five terrorists charged with terrorism, hijacking, and murder, are willing to plead guilty in exchange for getting treatment for their alleged torture and the removal of the option of capital punishment. Some families of the newly 3,000 victims have expressed outrage at the idea.

Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Corrections have filed an appeal against Judge Jocelyn Newman’s ruling from earlier this month. Judge Newman ruled that death by the electric chair or the firing squad is unconstitutional. Four death row inmates sued South Carolina after state lawmakers passed a bill establishing the electric chair as the default method of execution, while also approving the use of the firing squad. Previously, lethal injection was the default method of execution in the state, however, lawmakers changed the law when it became clear that South Carolina was unable to purchase drugs for use in executions. In addition to appealing the ruling, lawmakers are also being encouraged to pass a law that would shield the identities of anyone who would sell execution drugs to the state.

For more information regarding how your financial support can help, please click here.