Dena Ranger Freed from Execution After Forgiveness from Victim's Family

One of the rangers of the protected area of "Dena," who was sentenced to death for the murder of a hunter, was saved from execution after seven years in prison following the consent of the victim's family. Asad Taghizadeh is the ranger who, in August 2007, was involved in a confrontation with five hunters in the protected area of "Dena," which resulted in the death of one of the hunters named "Mojtaba Rezaei Nik." Taghizadeh was sentenced to death by the judiciary, and his death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in October 2011, drawing attention from a segment of the Iranian public to the conditions of rangers and the lack of necessary laws to protect them. Following the confirmation of this sentence, environmental activists began writing numerous letters to judicial authorities and government officials to halt the execution of this ranger from October 2011. The Environmental Organization, as Masoumeh Ebtekar announced last August, had also initiated efforts for the ranger's release, which ultimately bore fruit on Sunday. According to Iranian media reports, the "reconciliation ceremony" for this case was held on Saturday, March 7, with the presence of a group of local notables, provincial officials, and environmental activists, and the ranger was freed from execution. In this ceremony, Ismail Rezaei, the heir of Mojtaba Rezaei, announced his consent, which not only prevented the execution of the ranger but also facilitated his release. As reported by the media, Asad Taghizadeh was released from Yasuj prison on Tuesday, March 17, after completing administrative procedures. Taghizadeh is the seventh ranger among eight rangers who have been saved from execution. Masoumeh Ebtekar stated last year that eight rangers have been sentenced to death in recent years, six of whom have been acquitted and released. Gholamhossein Khaledi is another ranger who has been sentenced to death, and efforts for his release are still ongoing. Reports about Mr. Khaledi's latest status indicate that the heirs of Mohammad Pahizadeh have verbally forgiven this ranger, and if this matter is confirmed, he will also be released in the future. Gholamhossein Khaledi, a ranger in the Dena protected area in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, has been detained in Yasuj Central Prison since July 16, 2010, on murder charges. In this regard, Masoumeh Ebtekar: The death sentences of six rangers have been halted. Gholamhossein Khaledi, the Dena ranger, has been sentenced to death. The end of the story of the Boyer-Ahmadi ranger; forgiveness or execution? The changing battlefield of "proxy forces"; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis.