Iran: a young Jewish man found guilty of the murder of his attacker was executed

ROMA – Arvin Nathaniel Kahramani, a 20-year-old Iranian Jew, was executed by hanging by Iranian authorities on Monday after being sentenced to death last May for the murder of a Muslim man during a brawl two years ago. The Iranian human rights organization FOOD stated at the time: “According to reports received from sources close to this prisoner, Arvin Kahramani was arrested two years ago during a fight that led to the death of a Muslim citizen, and was therefore sentenced to capital punishment. After a brief legal proceedings, Arvin’s family’s efforts to appease the victim’s family and pay compensation according to the laws in force in the country “were unsuccessful. The victim’s family refused any compensation and insisted on carrying out the <a href="https://www.world-today-news.com/iran-transmits-confession-of-fighter-sentenced-to-death-after-trumps-appeal-the-economic-journal/" title="Iran transmits confession of fighter sentenced to death after Trump's appeal – The Economic Journal”>death penalty.”

Pressure on the Muslim’s family was unsuccessful. The Jewish Union of Iran constantly tried to obtain the consent of the plaintiff’s family, but none of its efforts were successful. Dr. Homayoun Sameyah, head of the Jewish Union of Iran, explained that “Nathaniel’s requests to meet the victim’s family and also the new imam of Kermanshah were rejected. Likewise, his efforts as well as those of other representatives of the Islamic Council, including Nathanz’s representative, to mediate and obtain the consent of the victim’s family, was unsuccessful: proposals such as building a school in the name of the victim, as well as making donations, were not accepted from parents”.

Ideologically oriented death sentence verdicts. This case has raised many concerns within the Iranian Jewish community. Human rights defenders believe that punishment verdicts and differences in law enforcement between Muslims and non-Muslims reflect systematic discrimination against religious minorities in Iran.