At Least 87 Executions in Iran Prisons in January 2025

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); February 4, 2025: At least 87 people including 10 Afghan nationals, an Arab, 7 Kurdish, 4 Baluch minorities, were executed in prisons across Iran in January 2025.

Only 5% of the executions were reported by official sources, the remaining 95% were verified and recorded by IHRNGO. The significant increase in the execution of Afghan nationals in 2024 has continued into 2025, with at least 10 Afghan executions recorded in the first month.

Iran Human Rights once again draws the attention of the Iranian people and international community to the executions in Iran and emphasises the need for protests and pressure on the Islamic Republic to stop the executions.

IHRNGO Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: "The Islamic Republic's execution machine continues to move forward at full speed, and those executed are mostly from deprived and marginalised communities who were denied due process and fair trial rights. Stopping the executions requires urgent action from the international community and widespread public protests."

January 2025 Executions at a Glance:

- At least 87 executions were carried out

- Only 4 of the executions (5%) were reported by official media

- 48 of those were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder

- 35 people were executed for drug-related offences

- 2 of the executions were rape charges

- 10 Afghan nationals were executed

- An Arab, 7 Kurdish and 4 Baluch minorities were amongst those executed

One of the cases recorded in January 2025:

Mohammad Biranvand, a murder defendant, was one of the 87 people executed in January. He was another victim of the Islamic Republic’s opaque judicial system and unjust laws which fail to distinguish between premeditated murder and manslaughter and applies the same punishment of qisas (retribution-in-kind) to all cases.

In an audio recording obtained by Iran Human Rights, Mohammad Biranvand recounted the events that led to his arrest and capital punishment:

He was working as a cargo driver on the Khorramabad-Tehran route to earn a living. One day, after passing through Saveh, he stopped in a small town called Zarandieh. A white unmarked Renault L90 with private plates approached, and its occupants, dressed in civilian clothing, opened fire without warning or identifying themselves.

Terrified, Mohammad and several others fled. While trying to escape, Mohammad accidentally struck one of the assailants with his vehicle as he ducked under the steering wheel, fearing for his life.

He was eventually arrested and under torture, he confessed that he had known the attackers were government officials. He said: "How were we supposed to know they were officials? They weren’t in uniform, they weren’t using an official vehicle, and they didn’t present a warrant. Should people be shot at over a shipment of plastic water bottles? Anyone in that situation would try to save their life."

The judiciary sentenced Mohammad to death just 11 days after his arrest and his execution was carried out in Saveh Prison on 22 January 2025.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, February 4, 2025

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