Iran: Female Prisoner Executed at Mashhad Prison

Oct. 15, 2020, 1:54 p.m.

Iran Human Rights (IHR); October 15, 2020: A female prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, has been executed at Mashhad Central Prison.

According to the Bashgah Khabarnegaran Javan (Young Journalists Club), on the morning of Sunday, October 11, a female prisoner was executed at Mashhad Central Prison. The female prisoner, who has only been identified as 33 year old Razieh had been sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder.

According to the report, Razieh had killed her two young children due to financial pressure after separating from her second husband. Prior to the murders, she had sent text messages to family members indicating that she was intending to commit suicide.

Razieh had suffered from severe depression and mental health issues, according to the report.

According to Iran Human Rights’ annual report, at least 225 of the 280 of those executed in 2019 were charged with "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.