Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani, a Jewish Iranian man facing execution for a fatal altercation, received a last-minute reprieve on Sunday, delaying his scheduled execution for an additional month.
Ghahremani was sentenced to death under Iran’s penal code for retributive justice, known as “Qisas,” after allegedly killing a man named Amir Shokri in self-defense during a brawl two years ago.
Efforts by Ghahremani’s family and international human rights organizations led to the stay of execution. In Iranian law, the death sentence can be commuted if the family of the deceased forgives the perpetrator.
Jewish Iranian
However, disparities in how the law is applied raise concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of minority groups. Human rights experts argue that the law discriminates against minority groups, as Qisas can be applied when a non-Muslim kills a Muslim, but not vice versa.
Ghahremani’s family had until Monday to appeal to Shokri’s family to spare his life, possibly through monetary compensation. International efforts, including appeals to various countries and assistance from Jewish-Iranian lawyers in the US, contributed to the effort to halt the execution.
The reason for the postponement was not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether Shokri’s family agreed to commute Ghahremani’s sentence. The case has garnered attention globally, with prayers held for Ghahremani at religious sites like Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem.
Iran’s Jewish community has dwindled significantly over the years, with many leaving the country. Iran’s hostility towards Israel and its support for anti-Israel groups like Hezbollah and Hamas have further complicated the situation for minority groups.
Iran has faced criticism for its high number of executions, with over 200 carried out this year alone, according to Iran Human Rights. Amnesty International reported 853 executions in Iran in 2023, the highest since 2015, condemning Iran’s “state-sanctioned killing spree.”
