Tag: executions

Execution of 15 Prisoners on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Bam, Birjand, Borazjan, executions, HRANA, Ilam, Jiroft, Khaf, Lahijan, Mahabad, Malayer, Rasht, Sabzevar, Shiraz, Sirjan, Yazd

HRANA – At dawn today, February 3, the death sentences of 15 prisoners, previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were carried out in the prisons of Sirjan, Rasht, Yazd, Ahvaz, Jiroft, Borazjan, Ilam, Khaf, Bam, Birjand, Lahijan, Mahabad, Sabzevar, Shiraz, and Malayer.

Based on information received by HRANA, Saeed Rouhani was executed in Sirjan Prison; Ayoub Lashkari in Rasht Prison; Bahram Bani Asad in Ahvaz Prison; Hedayat Mirzaei in Borazjan Prison; Afshin Maleki in Ilam Prison; Tahmasb Mehrjou in Khaf Prison; Ali Haghighatdoost in Lahijan Prison; Hirman Sadri in Mahabad Prison; and Majid Sohrabi in Malayer Prison. These individuals had been sentenced to death on charges of murder, and their sentences were carried out.

Additionally, Kourosh Niri in Yazd Prison, Eshaq Miri in Jiroft Prison, one prisoner in Bam Prison, Moradbeyg Haghighat in Birjand Prison, Pouya Lashani in Sabzevar Prison, and Khalil Hemmati in Shiraz Prison were executed on charges related to drug offenses.

Further details, including the identity of the prisoner executed in Bam Prison, are currently under investigation by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or the relevant institutions.

According to HRA’s annual report, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during the one-year period from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Based on this report, the implementation of death sentences increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these executions, due to secrecy, prisoners were even deprived of the right to a final visit with their families.

Execution of at Least 52 Prisoners in Iran on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
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HRANA – Concurrent with nationwide protests in Iran and amid a widespread internet shutdown across the country, the execution of at least 52 prisoners has been reported in 42 different prisons. These individuals had previously been sentenced to death on charges including murder, drug-related offenses, and other non-political and non-security-related accusations.

Their sentences were carried out between January 5 to 14, 2026. These executions took place under conditions in which public access to information was severely restricted, and independent oversight of judicial proceedings and the implementation of sentences was effectively impossible.

A review of the information received by HRANA indicates that despite the imposition of severe communication restrictions nationwide, the implementation of death sentences continued without interruption. Based on these findings, the executions were carried out in at least 42 prisons across various provinces of Iran, covering a wide range of geographical areas.

Between Monday, January 5 to 12, at least 37 prisoners were executed in various prisons across the country:
Mohammadjavad Rasouli executed in Nowshahr Prison on Monday, January 5; Arsalan Arabi in Rasht Prison on Tuesday, January 6; and Mahyar Mohammadi in Sanandaj Prison on Wednesday, January 7, all on murder charges. Additionally, on Saturday, January 10, multiple executions on murder charges were recorded in different prisons, including Mostafa Sheikhi in Khorramabad Prison, Samyar Emkani in Kermanshah Prison, Ebrahim Rayati in Hamedan Prison, Bahman Shokri in Dezful Prison, and Masoud Mardani in Yasuj Prison.

Furthermore, on Sunday, January 11, the executions of Simrad Zali in Borujerd Prison, Ayin Mousavi in Qom Prison, Hamid Khatib in Ardabil Prison, Jabbar Gholipour in Qazvin Prison, and Alireza Bagheri in Tabriz Prison were reported, all on murder charges. Also, on Monday, January 12, the executions of Ali Teymouri in Gorgan Prison, Parviz Khani in Neyshabur Prison, Sobhan Ghasemi in Dorud Prison, Hossein Jalili in Zanjan Prison, Javad Bahrami in Saveh Prison, Sajad Bamari in Kerman Prison, and Habibollah Shakeri in Kashan Prison were reported on murder charges.

In addition to murder charges, a number of the executions were reported to have been carried out on drug-related charges. Ahmad Hemmati was executed in Gonabad Prison on Wednesday, January 7; Khodarahm Mehri in Esfarayen Prison on the same day; Vali Karambeigi-Nejad in Quchan Prison on Thursday, January 8; Mehdi Babaei in Nahavand Prison on Saturday, January 10; Abdolhossein Zakipour in Arak Prison on Sunday, January 11; and Mola Joozipour in Semnan Prison on Sunday, all on charges related to drug offenses.

During the current week, a new wave of executions has been reported. On Saturday, January 10, the execution of two prisoners in Karaj Prison on drug-related charges was recorded; the identity of one of them was announced as Sasan Amini. On the same day, the execution of three prisoners in Aligudarz Prison on murder charges was reported, with the identities of two of them announced as Reza Shahmohammadi and Younes Parsa. On Sunday, January 11, the execution of two prisoners in Bandar Abbas Prison on murder charges was also reported, with the identity of one of them announced as Behzad Niazi. Additionally, on Monday, January 12, the execution of four prisoners in Isfahan Prison on murder charges was recorded, with the identity of one of them announced as Sattar Ahmadi.

On Tuesday, January 13, at least 10 prisoners were executed in various prisons across the country. According to available information, six prisoners were executed on murder charges, including Sohrab Fathi in Birjand Prison, Morteza Gholami in Ilam Prison, Mohammad-Amin Boghlani in Ahvaz Prison, Hamed Latifi in Yazd Prison, Najafali Navabi in Jiroft Prison, and Jalal Bakhtiari in Borazjan Prison. On the same day, Karim Piri in Bam Prison, Keyomars Sanaei in Khaf Prison, and Aziz Alipanahi in Yazd Prison were executed on charges related to drug offenses, and another prisoner was executed in Yazd on non-political and non-security-related charges.

On Wednesday, January 14, the execution of at least five prisoners on murder charges was also reported: Dariush Bozorgi  in Mahabad Prison; Mostafa Azizi and Arman Mohammadian in Kashmar Prison; Yaser Akbari in Shahrekord Prison; and Khosrow Abdi in Sabzevar Prison.

Further details, including the identification of seven of the prisoners, are still under review by HRANA.

As of the time this report was compiled, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or responsible institutions.

The continuation of the widespread implementation of death sentences amid internet shutdowns and severe restrictions on the flow of information has intensified concerns over the lack of judicial transparency, prisoners’ denial of access to fair trials, and the heightened risk of violations of the right to life. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that carrying out these punishments in a securitized and opaque environment increases the likelihood of serious human rights violations.

According to HRA’s annual report on the human rights situation in Iran, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during the one-year period from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Based on this report, executions increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these cases, due to secrecy, prisoners were even denied the right to a final visit with their families.

Protest Against the Wave of Executions; Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Continue Sit-In and Hunger Protest

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Executions, News
executions, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA

HRANA – Since Monday, October 13, hundreds of prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison, at least in wards 1 and 2, have refused to accept their prison meals and begun a sit-in inside their ward halls to protest the sharp rise in executions.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

Inmates in this prison have continued their sit-in and hunger protest for the second consecutive day. Based on information obtained by HRANA, prisoners in wards 1 and 2 began their protest two days ago by refusing prison food in response to the intensifying wave of executions. These wards mainly hold prisoners convicted of drug-related offenses.

The protest coincided with the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution. It is worth noting that Ghezel Hesar Prison has witnessed a significant surge in executions in recent weeks.

World Day Against the Death Penalty: Annual Report on Execution in Iran 2021-2022

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Executions, News, Publications
capital offense, Capital Punishment, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Drug-related charges, drug-related offenses, Evin, executions, executions in iran, iran death penalty, Juvenile Offenders, Rajai-Shahr, World Day Against the Death Penalty

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)- On the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) has published its annual report in an effort to sensitize the public about the death penalty situation in Iran, particularly thousands of death-row convicts awaiting their looming executions.

HRA’s Statistics Center relies on the work of HRANA reporters, as well as a network of independent and verifiable sources. It also incorporates the judicial authorities’ announcements or confirmations of prisoner executions on media, and as such, is exposed to a margin of error representing efforts by the Iranian authorities to omit, conceal, or restrict the collection of such data.

Between October 10, 2021, and October 7, 2022, at least 528 convicts were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 98% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, one was carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial and due process.

Click here to download report in PDF format

HRANA obtained 439 reports regarding executions and death penalty in Iran during this period. The identified executed individuals, include 20 women and 6 juvenile offenders under the age of 18 at the time of alleged crime. Compared to the last period, the execution of female offenders has raised 55%.

According to the reports obtained by HRANA, over this period, Iranian authorities sentenced at least 89 defendants to death penalty, including at least 5 women, and 7 public executions.  Issuing death sentence decreased by 1% compared to the last year.

As the chart below shows a breakdown of executions by capital offense: 50.38% were charged with murder, 41.29% with drug and narcotic offenses, 3.03% with rape, 1.70% with non-political armed robbery/offenses classified as “corruption on earth,” and 0.38% with political or security-related offenses. Moreover, 0.38% were convicted of security charges (spying, terror, and bombing), 0.38% were convicted of armed robbery, and 2.46% of charges are unknown.

The pie chart below displays execution numbers by the province in which they took place. According to this chart, the Sistan and Baluchestan Province had the highest number of executions at 16%. Alborz (where three overcrowded prisons are located) and Fars Provinces come second and third, with 16.48% and 11.93%, respectively.

The chart below depicts the distribution of executions’ information sources. The chart indicates that 70% of HRANA-confirmed executions were not announced by the official Iranian sources. Undisclosed executions are referred to as “secret” executions.

 

The chart above shows the execution numbers by gender.

The pie chart below displays execution numbers by the prison where the executions were carried out. The Rajai-Shahr Prison officials have carried out the highest number of executions with 14.42%. Zahedan Prison ranks second with 12,33% executions.

The chart below displays percentage of executions carried out in public Vs. the number of executions that were carried out in prison. According to statistics, 0.19% of the executions in Iran were carried out in public.

***

Click here to download the report in PDF format.

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]

Inmate Convicted for Killing a Police Agent Executed in Dezful Prison

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Executions, News
Dezful prison, executions

On March 3, an inmate convicted for killing a police agent was executed in Dezful Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim News Agency, the inmate was identified as Abbas Naderi.

The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Shush City announced the execution. According to him, Naderi’s conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

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Eight Inmates Executed in Various Prisons

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Executions, News
Ali Heydar Dehghani, executions, Farshad Farzi, Hamed Azizi, Jasem Ghanbari, Mehran Jafari

On February 27, two inmates convicted for drug-related crimes and murder were executed in Jiroft and Khorramabad prisons, respectively. Wednesday, an inmate convicted for murder was executed in Ilam Central Prison and five inmates convicted for murder were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, last Wednesday and Sunday, eight inmates were executed in various prisons.

Kurdpa reported that an inmate identified as Farshad Farzi, age 30, who was convicted for murder eight years ago was executed in Ilam Central Prison.

Iran Human Rights Organization reported that on Wednesday, in Rajai Shahr prison, prison officials carried out the execution of five inmates. Two of these inmates have been identified as Hamed Azizi and Mehran Jafari.

According to an informed source, “Hamed Azizi had killed someone in a fight over a woman. Mehran Jafari had killed his brother-in-law. Despite [Jafari] being a father of two children, the victim’s family insisted on his execution”.

This organization also reported that an inmate identified as Ali Heydar Dehghani, age 40, was executed in Korramabad Prison.

In a report by the Baloch Activists Campaign, on February 27, an inmate identified as Jasem Ghanbari was executed in Jiroft Prison. Three years ago, he was arrested for a drug-related crime and since then had been jailed. He is married and the father of two children.

Two Inmates Executed in Kashan and Vakilabad Prisons

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Executions, News
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On the morning of February 21, two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Kashan and Vakilabad prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, an unidentified inmate was executed in Kashan Prison. On the same day, another inmate identified by the first name Reza was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad city.

Regarding the first case, Kashan prosecutor Ruhollah Dehghani stated that “in June 2017, the defendant, age 49, killed a woman with whom he was acquainted on the Internet. Thereafter, he was arrested by the police”.

As for the second case, on September 30, 2014, Reza brought a 29 year old man injured by stabbing to a hospital in Mashhad. When he realized the man had passed away from the injuries, he fled the hospital. In November of 2018, Reza was arrested and sentenced to death.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

Inmate Executed in Aligudarz Prison

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Executions, News
Aligudarz Prison, executions, Mirza Roohifar, Secret executions

On February 8, an inmate previously convicted for murder was executed in Aligudarz Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights Organization, on Monday, February 8, 2022, the inmate was identified as Mirza Roohifar, age 37.

“Before his arrest, Mirza Roohifar was a car tire seller. Four years ago, he was accused of killing his neighbor in a quarrel about financial issues and thereafter [was] sentenced to death,” an informed source stated in the report.

The execution has not been announced by judicial authorities or reported by media inside Iran.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Two Inmates Executed in Maragheh Central Prison

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executions, Farid Mohammadi, homosexuality, LGBTQ+, Maragheh Central Prison, Mehrdad (Akbar) Karimpour, secret executuons, sodomy

On the morning of January 30, two inmates accused of and convicted for “forced sodomy” were executed in Maragheh Central Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the executed inmates were Mehrdad (Akbar) Karimpour, age 32, and Farid Mohammadi.

Six years ago, they were arrested, accused of forcible sodomy, and subsequently sentenced to death. They have since been imprisoned.

In Iran’s law, forcible sodomy is ascribed to homosexual rape and/or non-consensual same-sex intercourse.

These executions have not yet been announced by judicial officials or reported by media inside Iran.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

 One Inmate Executed in Adel-Abad Prison

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Adel-Abad Prison, blood money, executions

On February 2nd, an inmate convicted for murder was executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday morning, an inmate currently unidentified was executed. He was sentenced to death five years ago for committing murder and had been in jail since then.

According to an informed source, the inmate could not afford to pay “blood money” to the victim’s family in order to exact satisfaction. Because of this, he was ultimately executed.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.