Foreign Executions and Dual-nationals on Death Row in 2022

Foreign citizens

Afghans constitute the largest group of non-Iranian execution and death row cases in Iranian prisons. In 2021, no execution of Afghan nationals was recorded until September, when five men were executed in the space of 35 days. On 10 October 2021, Iran Human Rights expressed its concern that the Taliban takeover in August had facilitated the execution of Afghan nationals.[1] That number has more than tripled, with 16 Afghan nationals including a juvenile offender and a woman executed in 2022.

Eight were executed for murder charges: Eshagh Mohammadamin[2] on January 20, a  man only identified as Zobeid[3] on March 16, a man only identified as Golmohammad[4] on April 2, juvenile offender Mohammad Hossein Alizadeh[5] on August 10, Jilan Nourzehi[6] on June 23, Senobar Jalali[7] on July 27, an unidentified man[8] December 20, Davoud Rahmatali[9] on December 28. Seven were executed for drug-related charges: Khodanazar Kaka[10] on January 20, Najaf Anjom[11] on March 13, Fahim Valiollah Dini[12] on June 12, Khalghollah Fahimzadeh[13]on September 6, Jomeh Barakzehi[14] on July 26, Mojtaba Khademinejad[15] on August 28 and Yar Mohammad Eshaghzehi[16] on September 7. Abdol Latif Moradi was executed for charges of moharebeh on June 20.[17] Only two of the executions were officially announced by authorities.

Afghan-nationals Mohammad Ramez Rashidi and Naeim Hashem Ghotali were sentenced to death on charges of efsad-fil-arz, moharebeh and action against national security in relation to the terrorist attack on Shahcheragh mosque on October 26.[18] Mohammad’s forced confessions were televised prior to any legal proceedings taking place. No evidence of either man’s involvement has been presented by the authorities.

There is no public information available about the number of Afghan nationals on death row in Iranian prisons, but the numbers are believed to be high, particularly in prisons in the eastern part of the country. It is important to note that Afghan executions are not normally announced by authorities and they do not have a family network or lawyers who can create awareness about their situation. As such, their number may be higher than those we have been able to verify.

On July 24, Sarajolhagh Sedighi, a sunni cleric from the Baluch region of Pakistan, was executed for murder charges in Shiraz Central Prison.[19]He is the only recorded Pakistani national executed in 2022.

Dual citizens

Iran does not recognise dual nationality and thus denies consular access to dual citizens. It also uses imprisoned dual nationals and foreign nationals as bargaining chips in political and economic discussions with the West. In April 2019, then Iran Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif declared that he had the authority to exchange Iranian-Americans imprisoned in Iran with the US, an admission that these prisoners are being used as political hostages.[20] There are currently three dual citizens at risk in Iran, Ahmadreza Djalali,[21] Habib Asyoud[22] and Jamshid Sharmahd.[23]

Three dissidents were kidnapped from neighbouring countries with assistance from an international drug-cartel and transferred to Iran, Ruhollah Zam from Iraq in October 2019, Jamshid Sharmahd from the UAE in July 2020 and Habib Asyoud from Turkey in October 2020. Ruhollah Zam was executed on 12 December 2020.[24]

Habib Asyoud (also known as Habib Chaab), a Swedish-Iranian Arab dissident was subjected to torture following his abduction and his forced confessions aired on national television a month later. He was tried by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in an unfair trial that saw him deprived of basic due process rights. Habib was sentenced to death on charges of efsad-fil-arz on 6 December 2022 and his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court on 12 March 2023.[25] He is at grave risk of execution.

Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dissident residing in the United States, was held in pre-trial detention for over a year and a half before his trial began in February 2022. Presided by Judge Salavati, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of “efsad- fil-arz by planning and directing terrorist acts” on 21 February 2023. Jamshid has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest and denied legal representation, due process and the right to a fair trial.[26]

Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian scientist arrested while on an academic visit in Iran. He was sentenced to “efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) through espionage for Israel” after a grossly unfair trial at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati in November 2017. His sentence was upheld a month later. He has been sent back and forth to the gallows on multiple occasions in exchange attempts by Islamic Republic authorities.[27]

[1] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4917/

[2] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5067/

[3] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5144/

[4] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5161/

[5] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5451/

[6] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5314/

[7] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5385/

[8] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5663/

[9] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5671/

[10] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5070/

[11] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5147/

[12] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5282/

[13] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5465/

[14] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5379/

[15] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5443/

[16] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5470/

[17] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5299/

[18] https://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/4704150/دو-تن-از-عاملین-حادثه-تروریستی-حرم-مطهر-شاهچراغ-ع-به-اعدام-محکوم-شدند

[19] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5378/

[20] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/world/middleeast/iran-zarif-prisoner-exchange.html

[21] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5217/

[22] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5773/

[23] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5738/

[24] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4527/

[25] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5773/

[26] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5738/

[27] https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5217/

Afghans constitute the largest group of non-Iranian execution and death row cases in Iranian prisons. In 2021, no execution of Afghan nationals was recorded until September, when five men were executed in the space of 35 days. On 10 October 2021, Iran Human Rights expressed its concern that the Taliban takeover in August had facilitated the execution of Afghan nationals. That number has more than tripled, with 16 Afghan nationals including a juvenile offender and a woman executed in 2022. 

Eight were executed for murder charges: Eshagh Mohammadamin on January 20, a  man only identified as Zobeid on March 16, a man only identified as Golmohammad on April 2, juvenile offender Mohammad Hossein Alizadeh on August 10, Jilan Nourzehi on June 23, Senobar Jalali on July 27, an unidentified man December 20, Davoud Rahmatali on December 28. Seven were executed for drug-related charges: Khodanazar Kaka on January 20, Najaf Anjom on March 13, Fahim Valiollah Dini on June 12, Khalghollah Fahimzadeh on September 6, Jomeh Barakzehi on July 26, Mojtaba Khademinejad on August 28 and Yar Mohammad Eshaghzehi on September 7. Abdol Latif Moradi was executed for charges of moharebeh on June 20. Only two of the executions were officially announced by authorities.

Afghan-nationals Mohammad Ramez Rashidi and Naeim Hashem Ghotali were sentenced to death on charges of efsad-fil-arz, moharebeh and action against national security in relation to the terrorist attack on Shahcheragh mosque on October 26. Mohammad’s forced confessions were televised prior to any legal proceedings taking place. No evidence of either man’s involvement has been presented by the authorities.

There is no public information available about the number of Afghan nationals on death row in Iranian prisons, but the numbers are believed to be high, particularly in prisons in the eastern part of the country. It is important to note that Afghan executions are not normally announced by authorities and they do not have a family network or lawyers who can create awareness about their situation. As such, their number may be higher than those we have been able to verify.

On July 24, Sarajolhagh Sedighi, a sunni cleric from the Baluch region of Pakistan, was executed for murder charges in Shiraz Central Prison. He is the only recorded Pakistani national executed in 2022.

Dual citizens 

Iran does not recognise dual nationality and thus denies consular access to dual citizens. It also uses imprisoned dual nationals and foreign nationals as bargaining chips in political and economic discussions with the West. In April 2019, then Iran Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif declared that he had the authority to exchange Iranian-Americans imprisoned in Iran with the US, an admission that these prisoners are being used as political hostages. There are currently three dual citizens at risk in Iran, Ahmadreza Djalali, Habib Asyoud and Jamshid Sharmahd. 

Three dissidents were kidnapped from neighbouring countries with assistance from an international drug-cartel and transferred to Iran, Ruhollah Zam from Iraq in October 2019, Jamshid Sharmahd from the UAE in July 2020 and Habib Asyoud from Turkey in October 2020. Ruhollah Zam was executed on 12 December 2020.

Habib Asyoud, a Swedish-Iranian Arab dissident was subjected to torture following his abduction and his forced confessions aired on national television a month later. He was tried by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in an unfair trial that saw him deprived of basic due process rights. Habib was sentenced to death on charges of efsad-fil-arz on 6 December 2022 and his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court on 12 March 2023. He is at grave risk of execution.

Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dissident residing in the United States, was held in pre-trial detention for over a year and a half before his trial began in February 2022. Presided by Judge Salavati, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of “efsad- fil-arz by planning and directing terrorist acts” on 21 February 2023. Jamshid has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest and denied legal representation, due process and the right to a fair trial.

Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian scientist arrested while on an academic visit in Iran. He was sentenced to “efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) through espionage for Israel” after a grossly unfair trial at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati in November 2017. His sentence was upheld a month later. He has been sent back and forth to the gallows on multiple occasions in exchange attempts by Islamic Republic authorities.