Cousins Ali Mohammad Mohammadi and Eslam Mohammadi Executed in Ahvaz

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Ahvaz Sepidar Prison on October 19. The identity of the men who were cousins and sentenced to qisas for “murder during a tribal clash” has been established as Ali Mohammad Mohammadi and Eslam Mohammadi.

Informed sources told Iran Human Rights: “They were from the village of Potk Jalali in Ramhormoz and had committed the murder during a clash between the Mohammadi and Mousayi tribes.”

“The two cousins were arrested and sentenced to death along with four other relatives after the clash between the Mousayi and Mohammadi tribes when several people were killed. The victim’s family refused to grant them forgiveness until the moment they were executed. There’s efforts to obtain forgiveness for the other four relatives on death row who are at imminent risk of execution,” sources explained.

Sources further added: “Ali Mohammad’s mother died of a heart attack after the executions were carried out. There was also a heavy security atmosphere in the city following the executions and seven people including a police officer were injured in the ensuing clashes between the people and the police and over 50 were arrested.”

Experts have previously written about the effect of the death penalty on family members, including the increased chances of family members to display violent behaviour and commit crimes.  

According to Hengaw which first reported news of their executions, Ali Mohammad and Eslam were arrested on 29 May 2015.

At the time of writing, neither of their executions have been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

According to Iran Human Rights’ Annual Report on the Death Penalty, at least 211 of the 267 people executed in 2020 were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for "premeditated murder."

As there are no legal distinctions made between murder and manslaughter, whether voluntary or involuntary in Iran, those charged under the umbrella term of “premeditated murder” will receive the death penalty regardless of intent and the circumstances.