Eight Executed in Shiraz and Karaj Prisons

Human rights sources report that "eight prisoners" sentenced to death have been executed in two central prisons in Shiraz (Adelabad) and Qazalhasar in Karaj. The news agency HRANA announced on Sunday, July 31, that four prisoners previously sentenced to death for "drug-related charges" were executed in Qazalhasar prison in Karaj. HRANA identified three of the executed individuals as "Davood Barahoui," "Saeed Mohammadi Pour," and "Mahdi Ali Akbari," noting that the fourth individual is an "Afghan national." The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported on Friday the execution of "three men and one woman." The organization stated that these prisoners, who were sentenced to death in separate cases for "premeditated murder" and "rape," were executed on Saturday, July 30, in Adelabad prison in Shiraz. According to the report, "Mansour Tavakoli," "Hamed Shekasteh," and a woman with the surname "Mohammadi Nia" were three prisoners sentenced to death for "premeditated murder." Additionally, another man named "Mohsen Estavari" was executed for "rape" in this prison. The implementation of these sentences comes amid warnings from prisoners involved in the "No to Execution" campaign about a potential acceleration of executions following the elections. These prisoners, scattered across various prisons in the country, noted the historical increase in executions after each of the past elections under the Islamic Republic, considering the issuance of a death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist, and the arrest of Rana Kookoor, the sister of a political prisoner sentenced to death, as signs of this "worrisome" trend. The Iran Human Rights Watch also called on Masoud Pezeshkian, the winner of the presidential election, to start real changes by halting death sentences. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights Organization reported on July 13 that at least 249 people were executed in Iran in the first six months of 2024, of which 147 were charged with drug-related offenses. This figure represents a 30% decrease compared to the same period last year, but the Iran Human Rights Organization warns that a sharp increase in executions is likely after the presidential elections.