Nethanel ben Ziona Ghahremani (or Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani as some media also name him), a Jewish Iranian, is scheduled for execution on Monday, May 20, for allegedly killing a Muslim man in self-defense two years ago, according to an Iranian human rights organization.
Earlier, The News of Israel falsely stated that Nethanel ben Ziona Ghahremani had already been executed. We also erroneously named him as Erwin Nathanel Ben Ziona. We regret the oversight and have updated the article accordingly.
The Iran International news website, which is linked to the opposition in the country, reports that Ghahremani acted in self-defense during a knife attack, resulting in the death of Amir Shokri. The case has been processed under Iran's penal code for "retributive justice."
Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) noted that the 20-year-old Ghahremani is from Kermanshah and was initially set to be executed on Saturday, but the date has now been moved to Monday, as informed to his family.
Ghahremani was found guilty of the "intentional murder" of Shokri in the altercation. Under Iran's Islamic code, his only chance for clemency rests with the victim's family, who so far have not forgiven him.
Jewish Iranian-Americans are raising funds to send to Amir Shokri's family to secure Ghahremani's freedom.
IHR has released a recording of Ghahremani's mother pleading for public prayers to save her son. Social media has shown footage of prayers being offered for Ghahremani at the Rachel's Tomb pilgrimage site in the central West Bank city of Bethlehem this week.
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran had a Jewish population of around 100,000, which had dwindled to fewer than 10,000 by 2016. Iran, which is hostile toward Israel, supports groups like Hezbollah and Hamas that seek Israel's destruction.
Amnesty International reported that Iran executed 853 individuals in 2023, marking the highest number since 2015. The organization condemned the Iranian government's execution practices, describing them as turning prisons into "killing fields."
