A Death Certificate Without Clarity: Evidence of a Secret Execution of Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heidaranlou

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (16 Ordibehesht 1404), after 17 days of pursuit, the family of Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heidaranlou received his death certificate—a document lacking any mention of the location of execution, the exact cause of death, or reference to any court ruling. In the section labeled "Cause of Death," the only entry was the vague term "legal punishment," with no explanation about the method or site of execution. The certificate also does not include any verdict number, date of enforcement, or name of the issuing judicial authority.

These significant omissions violate the principles of fair trial and Iran’s own domestic regulations, including Article 22 of the Civil Registration Law and the Code of Criminal Sentencing Enforcement Procedures. Clearly, this certificate exemplifies a secret execution and represents a direct violation of the family’s right to seek truth and justice.

Rather than providing legal transparency, the certificate relies on ambiguity and silence—turning it not into a valid legal document, but rather into evidence of an execution carried out in the shadows, beyond judicial oversight, and under the control of security agencies.

According to the certificate, Hamid Hosseinnezhad’s date of death is recorded as April 18, 2025 (30 Farvardin 1404). However, his family did not learn of this until two days later, and during that time, government officials provided misleading or incomplete information. Notably, the date of death coincides with the broadcast of a coerced confession video by Fars News, reinforcing the likelihood that his execution was carried out secretly during that same timeframe.

Key Ambiguities and Legal Concerns in Hamid Hosseinnezhad’s Death Certificate:

1. Vague and Ambiguous Cause of Death: The only entry under cause of death is "legal punishment", without stating the actual method (e.g., hanging or shooting). This kind of vagueness contradicts Article 22 of Iran’s Civil Registration Law, which requires precise and detailed cause-of-death entries. From both a forensic and legal standpoint, this terminology is incomplete—and it deprives the family of the ability to seek transparent legal accountability.

2. No Mention of Place of Execution: The absence of location information in the certificate is not only legally incorrect—it is especially alarming in the context of an execution. According to Iran’s Code of Criminal Verdict Enforcement and Vital Events Registration Guidelines, and in line with international legal norms (such as Article 14 of the ICCPR), the location of a death sentence execution must be officially recorded and disclosed. The failure to include this information indicates that the execution was likely conducted in secret, without oversight, and without any opportunity for the family to be informed—clear hallmarks of a forced disappearance and unlawful killing.

3. No Verdict Number, Court Reference, or Judicial Signature: There is no reference to a judicial verdict, no court ruling number, no date of sentencing, and no official judicial authority’s name or signature on the certificate. These elements are required in documents related to the implementation of criminal punishments in Iran. Their absence renders the document judicially invalid, and instead of providing a reliable legal basis, it becomes an instrument of deliberate ambiguity.

This document is more than just a flawed record—it is a reflection of a secretive and extrajudicial system of capital punishment, where executions can occur without transparency, accountability, or legal safeguards. The use of a vague phrase like "legal punishment" without procedural context is a serious violation of the right to truth, and effectively blocks the family’s ability to pursue justice.

The report urges international human rights mechanisms to recognize this case as a clear instance of a secret execution and enforced disappearance, and to investigate the illegality and lack of transparency surrounding Hamid Hosseinnezhad’s death.