Three Men Hanged for Murder and Rape Charges in Rasht

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were hanged in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison on 20 May 2026. Their identities have been established as Shahin (Mohammadreza) Tafteh (right photo), a 32-year-old father of one from Astaneh Ashrafieh, and 28-year-old Mohammad Asghari from Rasht.

Shahin was arrested around six years ago and Mohammad was arrested four years ago. They were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for separate murders.

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

On 1 June, a 38-year-old man named Behnam Nemati Tamrin (left photo) was executed at the prison. He was accused of raping and murdering a 10-year-old girl on 7 August 2025. According to the judiciary’s Mizan News Agencywhich announced the news of his execution, he was sentenced to death on the rape charges.

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.

Crucially, while an indicative diya amount is set by the Judiciary every year, there is no legal limit to how much can be demanded by families of the victims. IHRNGO has recorded many cases where defendants are executed because they cannot afford to pay the blood money. Should the victim’s family choose execution, they are not only encouraged to attend, but also to physically carry out the execution themselves.