Pegah Bani Hashemi, Lawyer: Public Executions are 'Repugnant Punishments' with 'Eternal Negative Effects'

Following the public execution of a defendant in Maragheh, Pegah Bani Hashemi, a lawyer, described this judicial action as a 'repugnant punishment' devoid of any deterrent effect on society in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America. Bani Hashemi stated that the impact on the family of the condemned is detrimental, saying, 'The calamity that befalls the families of those executed in public is never-ending, and its stigma will remain with these families forever.' Soleiman Salamat, who was reportedly arrested about seven years ago, was executed on Thursday, May 25, for the charge of 'corruption on earth' through 'widespread corruption and prostitution.' Mahmoud Naimati, the prosecutor of Maragheh, defended this judicial action, stating that public execution was aimed at 'prevention.' However, Pegah Bani Hashemi rejected the deterrent capability of executions in her conversation with Voice of America, citing the executions of drug offenders in Iran over past decades and arguing that since the main reasons for individuals turning to drug trafficking are economic problems and unemployment, punishing offenders has had no effect on reducing these crimes. Based on published images, this sentence was carried out in front of citizens, including young children. The Iran Human Rights Organization criticized the 'return of public executions to the streets' and called on international organizations active in children's affairs, including UNICEF, to 'hold the Islamic Republic accountable for this action with decisive and serious measures.' Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam, the director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, called for strong condemnation of this action by the global community. According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, public executions have continued in Iran over the years, except in 2021. The organization identified the recent execution in Maragheh as the first public execution of this year and expressed concern about the possibility of its recurrence in the coming months. Meanwhile, it is reported that the public execution of two defendants in the 'Shahcheragh attack' will soon be carried out in Shiraz. Many experts believe that the Islamic Republic is using the tool of execution, especially in public, to instill fear among citizens and its opponents.