Builder’s Fingers Amputated for Allegation of Stealing 5 Sheep

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man’s fingers were amputated in Qom Central Prison on 17 July 2023. His identity has been established as 35-year-old Yousef T (surname withheld by IHRNGO) who was sentenced to have four fingers amputated for the “theft of 5 sheep.”

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Yousef was 34 when he was arrested for allegations of stealing five sheep from a farm that belonged to a member of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Yousef was a builder and contracted to build a room on the farm. He denied the theft and insisted he was innocent throughout the 13 months he was behind bars.”

According to the informed source, another man’s fingers were also amputated at the prison in Shahrivar (23 August-22 September 2022).

IHRNGO is working to establish the man’s identity and exact date of amputation. On 12 June 2022, it warned of the imminent amputation of seven men in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary. Due to the judiciary’s lack of transparency, the exact number of people currently awaiting amputation sentences in Iran is unknown. It is estimated that dozens are at risk of this inhumane and medieval punishment.

Punishments such as amputation and whipping are cruel, degrading and inhuman punishments that amount to torture which is prohibited according to Iran’s international treaty obligations.