Baluch Mohammad Ali Vahidi Executed in Gonbad Kavous

According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was executed in Gonbad Kavous Prison, in Golestan province on 19 October. His identity has been reported as 56-year-old Mohammad Ali Vahidi who was a retired teacher from the Dahmardeh tribe in Kalaleh, Golestan.

Mohammad Ali was arrested for murder around five years ago and sentenced to qisas for murder. He was transferred from the general ward the day prior to his execution.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Ethnic minorities, the Baluch in particular, are grossly overrepresented in execution numbers in Iran. In 2022, at least 174 Baluch minorities including 3 women, were executed in 22 prisons across Iran, making up 30% of overall executions. This is while they represent just 2-6% of Iran’s population. Furthermore, in the first six months of 2023, 20% of the at least 354 executions were Baluch people.

Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.