Hoveyda was sentenced to death for "waging war against God" and "spreading corruption on earth". Before reaching the area designated for firing squad executions Hojatoleslam Hadi Ghaffari pulled out a pistol and shot Hoveyda twice in the neck. He was left on the ground in agony, begging for the executioners to finish him off. Finally his executioners shot him in the head. According to the autopsy report Hoveyda was also beaten shortly before his execution.