Mohammad Safari Executed for Murder in Rajai Shahr Prison

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, 35-year-old Mohammad Safari was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on November 24. He was sentenced to qisas for murdering a street vendor named Ali Cheraghi.

“Mohammad Safari worked as a municipal officer responsible for clearing paths. On 7 August 2014, he killed Ali Cheraghi who was collecting metal scraps in Tehran Pars,” an informed source told Iran Human Rights.

Mohammad Safari was acquitted of murder but the case was sent for re-examination to Branch 10 of the Tehran Criminal Court at the request of the victim’s family, which sentenced him to qisas. According to the court ruling, he killed Ali Cheraghi by punching him in the temple.

At the time of writing, his execution has not 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.