Wed Nov 13 10:38:51 UTC 2024: ## Iran Executes Man For Second Time After Previous Hanging Was Halted
**Tehran, Iran:** Ahmad Alizadeh, a 26-year-old man, was executed for a second time on Wednesday in Iran, months after a previous execution attempt was stopped just 28 seconds into the hanging.
Alizadeh was arrested in 2018 on murder charges, which he denied, and sentenced to death. However, his execution on April 27th was halted when the victim’s family suddenly declared forgiveness. Alizadeh, who had been brought down from the gallows and resuscitated, was spared from the death penalty at that time.
Under Iranian law, a victim’s family has the right to forgive the perpetrator or demand blood money in exchange for their life. However, Alizadeh remained under the threat of execution as no agreement was reached with the victim’s family regarding blood money.
The latest execution, carried out in the Ghezel Hesar prison, has been condemned by human rights groups who accuse Iran of using the death penalty as a tool to instill fear in society.
Iran Human Rights (IHR), which monitors executions in Iran, has reported a surge in executions in 2024, with at least 166 recorded in October alone – the highest number for a single month since IHR began recording executions in 2007.
The execution of Alizadeh has also reignited concerns about the use of torture in Iran’s judicial system. IHR Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam stated that Alizadeh was a talented student and denied the murder charges, claiming he confessed under duress.
Amnesty International has also condemned the execution and continues to highlight Iran’s high number of executions, which is second only to China, for which no reliable data is available.
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